A father was left stunned when he discovered the devastating reason behind his weight loss.
The content creator, who goes by the name coloncanceramigo on TikTok, has amassed a large following due to his candid discussions about his journey with cancer. He is now a survivor of colon cancer but, initially, he confessed that he overlooked common symptoms.
In a frank video, he revealed that he initially believed his diet was finally having an effect before being diagnosed with the disease. However, in a tragic twist, he was informed that he actually had colon cancer (bowel cancer).
He admitted that the signs were “right in front” of him for some time, but it took him a while to seek medical attention. Now he’s encouraging others to be proactive about their health.
Over a moving video, he wrote: “Colon cancer signs were right in front of my face. These are the last few months before being diagnosed with Stage 3b Cancer. I thought my ‘keto’ diet was finally working. I unexpectedly lost 40lbs within a two-month span.
“The rectal bleeding was getting worse. The abdominal pain kept coming back often. I started sleeping more and more with random fevers. The diarrhoea just kept coming.
“The pain eventually got too bad so I rushed to the ER. A quick CT scan detected a huge mass in my colon. I was diagnosed with cancer at age 32.”
Since the video was shared on social media, it has garnered over 50,000 likes, prompting an outpouring of comments, with many expressing their gratitude for the use of the platform to bring attention to the illness.
One commenter expressed their personal loss, writing: “Thank you for the awareness. I just lost my grandmother to colon cancer. It’s good to know people are out there sharing their stories.”
Another person shared: “I’m so sorry this happened to you. I’m a colon cancer survivor, and you’ve got this my friend.” Meanwhile, a third also added: “Just lost my mother-in-law to colon cancer. Had no idea until it was too late.”
What should we know about colon cancer?
Bowel cancer, which can develop in the colon or rectum, stands as one of the UK’s most prevalent cancers.
The main symptoms of bowel cancer include:
- Changes to your poo. For example, it may become softer or you may experience diarrhoea or constipation that is not normal for you.
- The need to poo more or less often than normal.
- Finding blood in your poo.
- Bleeding from your bottom.
- Regularly feeling like you need to pass poo, even if you’ve been to the loo recently.
- Stomach pain.
- A lump in your tummy.
- Bloating.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Feeling tired without reason.
People experiencing any of these signs for three weeks or longer should seek medical advice. It’s always recommended to consult a GP for any health-related worries.