How much do you know about colon cancer? A single mother has stepped forward and spoken about her battle with stage four colon cancer in an effort to raise awareness around the warning signs she dismissed. Mother of one, Radwah Oda from Texas has been juggling raising her child, maintaining an office job and fighting her cancer.

She went viral on TikTok when she posted a video about her experience which has raked in over 2.3 million views, sharing the symptoms she completely overlooked. She has urged the public to take their health more seriously and not ignore these most commonly dismissed symptoms which are major red flags.

Changes in Stool

Radwah started off describing one of her first warning signs of colon cancer. Her bowel habits had changed. She noticed how her stool started off becoming more pencil shaped and she initially dismissed this, assuming it was just mild constipation.

Another Colon Cancer Symptom

She noted that her stool seemed to contain small amounts of blood and attributed that to possibly being hemorrhoids. This is apparently commonly overlooked. She additionally mentioned that she never felt like her bowels were fully empty after she had gone to the bathroom. “Each time I would use the restroom, I would feel like I still needed to go. I would keep pushing and pushing but nothing would come out.” She described.

Unexplained Pain

Another common symptom that is well-known in the cancer community is abdominal pain. With colon cancer, this pain can often occur in other areas as the disease progresses. Oda described her pain starting below her right breast, dismissing it as an ill-fitting bra. “I just assumed my bra was too tight, even though it was just on one side,” she explained.

This pain she was experiencing was however actually an indication that the colon cancer had already progressed to her liver. This alone should highlight the importance of constantly monitoring unusual pains and seeking medical attention when these symptoms don’t subside as they could mean something more serious.

Chronic Fatigue

Radwah was also experiencing chronic fatigue – another common symptom of colon cancer. She found that despite ensuring she was getting adequate rest, she constantly felt tired. She was eventually taking multiple naps throughout the day. “I would still need to take a nap a few times during the day and nothing really helped,” she noted. Chronic fatigue is common in cancer patients, especially those with colon cancer as its draining the body while it consumes your resources.

Read More: 8 Symptoms of Colon Polyps To Look Out For

Other Signs Of Colon Cancer

In another video, she discussed other additional symptoms she was experiencing before receiving her cancer diagnosis. She was experiencing chronic weight-loss, had a poor appetite and terrible stomach pains. “Up until doctors told me I had cancer, I blamed these symptoms on a ‘really bad stomach bug,‘” she shared. One would often overlook these, but it’s important to seek medical attention when unexplained changes are occurring in your body.

Advocating for Awareness

“If you have any of these symptoms, please don’t be concerned, but go see a doctor,” she urged in her video. Radwah Oda’s story most certainly passed on a strong message to viewers advocating for people to take their health more seriously. Younger people often dismiss their symptoms, finding excuses instead of seeking help.

Common Warning Signs of Colon Cancer

Many of these symptoms of colon cancer slowly develop which makes diagnosis challenging. The American Cancer Society has urged people to be more aware, noting that these symptoms may often be dismissed as other conditions, but it’s crucial to seek the help of professionals just in case. Some common symptoms include:

• Changes in bowel habits (e.g., diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of stool).
• Blood in stool or rectal bleeding.
• Persistent abdominal pain or cramping.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Weakness or fatigue.

Colon Cancer in Younger People

More recent studies have indicated that an alarmingly large number of colorectal cases have been identified in people under the age of 50. Many younger patients are under the misconception that colon cancer primarily occurs in older patients, often delaying their diagnosis.

Persistent abdominal pain and bloody stools are the top two most common early on symptoms in younger patients. The Mayo Clinic had advised that potential cases need to pay special attention to changes in bowel habits as these are some of the most common indicators. Early detection can improve chances of earlier diagnosis, leading to more successful outcomes in their treatments.