Alexa Morrell, 32, colon cancer, Chelmsford, with son, Maddox (4)

● In 2020, Alexa was 29 years old and had just witnessed her son, Maddox, take his
first steps. Later that same day she learned that she had Stage 4 colon cancer.
● Before her diagnosis, two weeks of bloody stools prompted her to visit a
gastroenterologist, then get a colonoscopy, with results showing a large abnormal
mass in her sigmoid colon.
● With the help of her oncologist, Dr. Mattew Yurgelun, she began 12 chemotherapy
treatments, one every two weeks and tumor removal surgery. Following her final
chemotherapy infusion, Alexa’s husband, Ryan, arranged a surprise parade of friends
and neighbors to celebrate her completion of treatment. Signs had phrases that
read: “You Did It!” and “In This Family, No One Fights Alone!”
● After a second surgery in May 2020, Alexa was declared cancer-free. She was finally
able to hold her son, Maddox again, after the stitches healed and began working
from home.
● Today, Alexa is committed to advocacy work, as colonoscopies are typically
recommended around age 45. She wants to help others so they don’t have to go
through what she did.

Colon cancer facts
● Colorectal cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and
women, excluding skin cancers. It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death.
● Colorectal cancer is on the rise in people younger than 50. By 2030, colon cancer
incidence among Americans aged 20-34 years is expected to increase by 90%, with
rectal cancer rates expected to increase by a staggering 124%.
● Colorectal cancer on track to nearly double and be the leading cause of cancer death
in adults under 50 by 2030.
● Colorectal cancer is often a silent disease, developing with no symptoms at all. When
symptoms do occur, they may include the following:
○ Blood in or on the stool

○ Change in bowel habits
○ Stools that are narrower than usual
○ General stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness, and/or cramps)
○ Vomiting
● There are now more than 1.5 million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United
States.
● The screening age was recently lowered from age 50 to 45 following the rising rate of
the disease in younger adults.