A 29-year-old woman, who said she eats a healthy and clean diet, was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal or colon cancer. In a social media post, Delhi-based entrepreneur Monika Choudhry said she took a lot of care for her health, and cancer came as a brutal joke.
“I’ve always been a focused person, especially when it comes to my health. I used to eat healthy and take good care of my diet. I never liked fried or oily food. When I started working on my website, I didn’t realise how demanding and all-consuming it would become,” Monika wrote on Instagram.
Monika said that, suddenly out of the blue, she started feeling tired and thought it was due to long working hours and constant chasing of deadlines. “My days became sedentary. I wasn’t moving much, I barely stepped outside, and I completely lost touch with my physical routine. This was a huge shift from the lifestyle I had before – I used to be extremely active,” she wrote. “Slowly, my body started giving signs: fatigue, uneasiness, discomfort, but I dismissed them, blaming it all on work pressure or a lack of sleep,” she added.
However, after neglecting her fitness for a long time, her diagnosis of stage 4 cancer made her realise how important physical health is. “Looking back now, I realise this wasn’t just about bad luck. It was a result of stress, burnout, and complete physical neglect over time,” she said.
Poor lifestyle conditions that contribute to cancer
According to experts, there is no single risk factor that leads to cancer. However, a couple of pointers – which include daily and heightened stress, overworking and burnout, and lack of sleep – significantly affect your immune system, which increases inflammation and impairs hormone regulation.
Apart from your lifestyle choices, there are many other risk factors, which include inherited conditions. Doctors say having one or more risk factors for colon cancer does not mean you will develop the condition, but that you have an increased risk. Understanding risk factors may help you decide your course of treatment as well.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer starts in your large intestine – the long tube that helps carry digested food to your rectum and out of your body. It develops from certain polyps or growths in the inner lining of your colon. Doctors have screening tests that detect precancerous polyps before they can become cancerous tumours. However, if it is not detected in time, colon cancer can spread to other areas of your body.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer
A few signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:
Blood in your poop
Talk to your doctor if you notice blood in the toilet after you poop or after wiping, or if your poop looks dark or bright red.
Persistent changes in your bowel habits
If you notice persistent constipation or diarrhoea, get yourself tested.
Stomachache
If you have a chronic stomachache without a known cause that does not go away or hurts a lot, make sure to talk to your doctor.
Bloating
Like belly pain, there are many things that may make you feel bloated. Talk to a healthcare provider if your bloated belly lasts for more than a week.
Unexplained weight loss
It is one of the most noticeable changes in your body
Vomiting
Do let your doctor know if you have been vomiting periodically for no known reason.
Fatigue and breathlessness
These are symptoms of a lack of iron in your body, also known as anemia.