Blog

Mila’s story: Overcoming silence and raising awareness for CRC in young adults – Digestive Cancers Europe

Digestive Cancers Europe/LinkedIn

Mar 21, 2025, 17:25

Mila’s story: Overcoming silence and raising awareness for CRC in young adults – Digestive Cancers Europe

Digestive Cancers Europe shared a post on LinkedIn:

“At the age of 25, I should have been enjoying life, not navigating a medical maze. For more than a year, I visited countless doctors, describing my symptoms, the pain, and how much I was suffering, only to be dismissed as young and overreacting.

Even when a faecal occult blood test came back positive, no one thought a colonoscopy was urgent. I was ‘too young.’

Finally, one year later and in the middle of COVID, my Colorectal Cancer (CRC) diagnosis arrived. The world stopped. I couldn’t say a word for days, I felt how the weight of the word cancer was crushing me and everyone around me. From the get-go, I knew something was wrong, and it took me too long to get someone to listen to me.

Treatment was incredibly hard for me, especially when pandemic protocols meant I had to go through chemo alone. You really need someone with you to be able to say bad words when you’re about to break down!

On those good days, I sought solace in nature and Yoga, focusing on my breath, and learned to be truly present even in chaos.

Now, almost five years later after getting my diagnosis, I feel ready to talk about it and do something about it. I want to be part of a positive change, raising awareness, providing support and connecting with fellow survivors.

Even though this CRC experience is a part of me, it won’t define me. I choose to live fully, embracing opportunities, celebrating the smallest of joys, and breaking the silence and taboo around cancer, especially among adolescents and young adults (AYAs).

This European Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, share Mila’s story to help more people know more.”

More posts featuring Digestive Cancers Europe.