Kentucky Mom's Quick Action Catches Cancer Early, Saves Life

When Amanda Fitzpatrick noticed unusual bleeding after Christmas 2024, she didn't wait for her scheduled colonoscopy. That decision saved her life.

The 47-year-old Kentucky mom planned to schedule a screening early in 2025, but her body sent urgent signals. "I had gone to work and was just feeling really dizzy, really just not myself," Fitzpatrick said.

She went straight to the emergency room. Within 24 hours, she had a colonoscopy. On New Year's Eve, doctors confirmed colorectal cancer.

The diagnosis ruined her holiday plans but gave her something far more valuable: time. Because Fitzpatrick acted quickly, surgeons caught the cancer early and removed it with minimally invasive surgery.

"I work with incredible women who were like, 'Go, let's do this, let's take care of it,'" Fitzpatrick said. As a single mother of two, she knew waiting could have changed everything.

Dr. Jessica Croley, one of Fitzpatrick's providers at CHI Saint Joseph Health, put it bluntly. "If she had waited until 50, which everyone is so accustomed to age 50 being the starting point for colonoscopy, she probably would've had stage three or stage four cancer," Croley said.

The numbers tell an alarming story. Colorectal cancer became the leading cause of cancer deaths in adults under 50 as of 2023, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

But there's a powerful counterpoint to that statistic. "We can prevent it, and we can cure it early," said Dr. Kathleen Martin, another of Fitzpatrick's providers.

The challenge is that symptoms often don't appear until cancer advances. Current guidelines recommend screening at age 45, not 50 like many people still believe.

Why This Inspires

Fitzpatrick's story shows the power of listening to your body and acting fast. Her quick thinking meant avoiding months of intensive treatment that would have been devastating for her family. "How would I have managed that as a single mom?" she reflected.

Now she's sharing her experience ahead of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month to help others avoid waiting too long. Her message is simple: don't put off screening, and don't ignore warning signs.

For anyone concerned about colorectal cancer, CHI Saint Joseph Health offers a HOPE line at (859) 313-4673 for consultations and information.

Fitzpatrick's instincts gave her a second chance, and now she's using that chance to spread hope.