I sat with [symptoms] for a year or more before even getting it checked out, and I would imagine a lot can happen in a year, in terms of cancer progress. Don’t hesitate.
Michael LaCrosse, colorectal cancer survivorIn 2024, Michael LaCrosse started noticing some blood in his poop.
It was inconsistent and sparse, so he decided it wasn’t worth a doctor’s visit.
“My biggest hesitancy was it’s a region of the body that’s not exactly comfortable to have a doctor rooting around in, so that was my biggest hang up …,” said LaCrosse, 35. “I passed it off as no big deal. Of course, it ended up being a huge deal.”
In September of 2024, LaCrosse said the blood became more frequent and intense—so much so that he made an appointment with his primary care provider at Cheshire Medical Center. He was then referred to get a colonoscopy, where a large polyp was identified, removed and sent for further testing.
At 34, LaCrosse was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer.
“It was crushing …,” said LaCrosse of West Chesterfield. “It was a lot of disbelief to start. You see the results, you’re reading it, you know what you’re reading in the report, but nothing sinks in.”
Although older adults are most likely to develop colon cancer, younger adults are now getting diagnosed more often. In the early 2000s, people under 50 made up about 5% to 7% of colon cancer diagnoses. Now, that number is around 10%.
After his diagnosis, LaCrosse went through more testing to determine his treatment plan. He underwent surgery to remove part of his colon and the primary tumor a few weeks later.
Following surgery, some of the lymph nodes he had removed tested positive for cancer, so LaCrosse then received chemotherapy treatment for about three months. By June of 2025, he turned the corner and was in remission, meaning the symptoms of the cancer had significantly lessened or completely disappeared.
“I took a couple of months throughout the summer to recover and get back to 100%, and since then, I’ve just been getting back to life, to put it simply,” he said.
Coming away from this experience, LaCrosse stressed that people should not wait to get checked by a healthcare provider if any symptoms arise.
“I sat with [symptoms] for a year or more before even getting it checked out, and I would imagine a lot can happen in a year, in terms of cancer progress,” he said. “Don’t hesitate.”
People at average risk for developing colorectal cancer are recommended to start regular screenings at age 45. However, people at increased risk may need to be screened earlier. Talk to your healthcare provider about what is best for you.
To schedule a colorectal cancer screening at Cheshire, call 603-354-5454 ext. 3296.