Florida Man Beats Stage III Colon Cancer, Urges Screening

When Darren Mulcahy collapsed in his New Smyrna Beach kitchen one morning, he had no idea his body had been crying for help for months.

The 57-year-old had brushed off rapid weight loss, night sweats, and crushing fatigue as stress from his financial services job. But that fainting spell in his kitchen changed everything.

His doctor referred him to a gastroenterologist who performed a colonoscopy at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. The results revealed stage III colorectal cancer with a tumor so large it nearly blocked his colon completely.

"I started losing five to 10 pounds a month without really doing anything," Mulcahy recalled. "There were a lot of things happening to my body that I just wasn't paying attention to."

Mulcahy's story reflects a troubling national trend. Colorectal cancer now strikes younger adults at alarming rates, with nearly half of new cases occurring in people under 65, up from just 27% in 1995.

The disease has become the leading cause of cancer death for adults under 50. About 200 adults under 65 receive a diagnosis every single day in the United States.

Dr. Matthew Wilson, a colon and rectal surgeon at AdventHealth Daytona Beach, first had to address the blockage before cancer treatment could begin. Mulcahy underwent a temporary colostomy procedure to allow his body to function normally during chemotherapy and radiation.

Over the next year, Mulcahy endured multiple rounds of treatment and several surgeries. As the tumor shrank, Wilson removed the cancer using robotic-assisted surgery, which meant smaller incisions, less pain, and faster recovery.

Mulcahy's final surgery took place in September 2025. Today, he is cancer-free.

Why This Inspires

Despite routine screening being recommended at age 45, only about one-third of eligible adults actually get tested. Mulcahy wishes he had been one of them.

Now cancer-free, he's gradually returning to jogging, exercising, and working in his yard. But more importantly, he's sharing his story to help others avoid his mistake.

"I just wish I had paid attention sooner," he said. His message is simple: don't ignore your body's warning signs, and don't skip that screening.