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David Hungerford never expected a routine colonoscopy to turn his life upside down. At age 45, the Long Island financial adviser joined an increasing number of Americans under 50 diagnosed with colorectal cancer when doctors discovered he had stage 3 colon cancer in October 2023.
Without any symptoms or family history, Hungerford’s screening was simply following medical guidelines recommending colonoscopies at age 45 for those at average risk. The discovery was particularly striking given that cancer is found in less than 1% of colonoscopy screenings.
“I was shocked,” Hungerford, now 47, recalled.
Exclusive | I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer at 45 — this is my biggest regret https://t.co/551nMG4VYb
Financial adviser David Hungerford, of Long Island, joined an unfortunate club with a growing membership — people under 50 with colorectal cancer.
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During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month this March, Hungerford has taken on the role of colonoscopy advocate, determined to share his experience with others.
“You have to take care of yourself,” he said. “I learned that in a way — a hard way.”
His journey began when his wife Jill scheduled the appointment on recommendation from a friend who worked as a gastroenterologist at Northwell Health. What should have been a routine procedure took an unexpected turn.
“When I was woken up [after the procedure], I was told that the doctor wanted to see me,” Hungerford recounted. “And I thought, ‘OK, well, he’s a family friend.’ He’s probably just going to say, ‘Everything is good.’ And as soon as I sat down, he said, ‘We have a problem.'”
The diagnosis revealed an orange-sized tumor blocking his colon. While awaiting surgery the following month, Hungerford faced both emotional turmoil and physical complications. His condition deteriorated rapidly as the blockage became complete, causing nausea and vomiting.
“I started getting nauseous, and I actually started vomiting — what had happened was I was blocked,” Hungerford said. “So I was 100% blocked within 24, maybe 36 [or] 48 hours of the surgery. I started to panic.”
Dr. David Rivadeneira at Huntington Hospital expedited the surgery. “David’s tumor was a classic tumor of the colon and rectal area, what we call an adenocarcinoma. This is the type of cancer cell that is most predominant in the intestinal tract,” Rivadeneira, director of the Northwell Health Cancer Institute at Huntington, explained.
Following surgery, Hungerford underwent five months of chemotherapy from December 2023 through May 2024. The treatment’s steroids created a roller coaster of energy highs followed by extreme fatigue. He also temporarily required a colostomy bag, which proved particularly challenging.
“I wouldn’t wish that on anybody,” Hungerford lamented. “[It] was very limiting for someone my age and what I do for my career. You get nervous if you’re in somebody’s house or you’re at work and something happens.”
The colostomy was reversed in July 2024 when his colon was reattached. Looking back, Hungerford recognized subtle warning signs he’d missed, including mild anemia detected in two previous physicals.
“This is one of the major signs that we see with patients with colorectal cancer or intestinal cancers in general,” Rivadeneira said.
Doctors say they are seeing younger patients getting colorectal cancer, especially those with genetic disorder https://t.co/aiXM8tOBI4 via @69News
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Despite requiring ten iron infusions before surgery, Hungerford hadn’t experienced typical anemia symptoms like fatigue or dizziness.
Today, Hungerford is cancer-free with an excellent prognosis. “People need to remember that colon and rectal cancer is an extremely curable cancer with surgery when caught in early stages,” Rivadeneira explained.
Hungerford’s only regret is waiting ten months after turning 45 to schedule his screening. “If I had it [right] at 45, I probably wouldn’t have been blocked the morning of my surgery,” Hungerford said. “Just the way it worked out between Oct. 6 and Nov. 2, that thing went from partially blocked to fully blocked.”
Now sporting a t-shirt promoting cancer screening, Hungerford has inspired over 50 people to schedule colonoscopies. “I’m just trying to promote the heck out of it,” he said.
