A woman has shared how what she thought was pain caused by an ill-fitting bra, turned out to be something entirely more sinister: stage four colorectal cancer.
Radwah Oda was experiencing strange symptoms including extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and stomach issues – which she put down to potential IBS.
But the 33-year-old grew concerned as the problems persisted, including a pain in her right side just beneath her breast.
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“At first, I thought it might be due to my bra being too tight, even though the discomfort was only on one side,” Radwah, who works as a risk control analyst in Houston, Texas, told Need To Know.
While she had answers for many of her symptoms, including assuming dark blood in her stool was down to a hernia, Radwah was in “excellent health”, exercising up to five times a week and eating a clean diet.
Having no health concerns, and not knowing the symptoms of colorectal cancer, Radwah had no idea something more serious was actually at play.
She said: “Whenever I experienced symptoms, I brushed them off as something minor.
“I didn’t make time for doctor’s appointments and hadn’t had an annual check-up in years.
“But in August 2021, I visited the ER multiple times, thinking it was just a stomach bug when I was vomiting and had diarrhoea
“The doctors [also] assumed it was a stomach bug and treated me with IV fluids to help with dehydration.”
But a CT scan found the horrifying truth.
Radwah said: “At that moment, when the doctor told me it was cancer, the room seemed to close in around me.
“I felt so small and vulnerable, completely overwhelmed by shock.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it – it didn’t feel real.
“I couldn’t understand how this could happen to me.
“I felt like I had done everything right – eating healthy, exercising regularly, using natural products. “I was still young, and I thought I was doing everything I could to avoid cancer.
“Unfortunately, it turned out to be caused by cancer metastasis, and when I was first diagnosed, there were over 20 tumours on my liver.”
Radwah started chemotherapy the following month, completing 12 rounds before undergoing three surgeries.
The first, in May 2022, involved the removal of part of my colon and half of her liver, while the second surgery, in December 2022, removed the other half of her liver.
The third surgery took place in February 2024, where another section of her liver was removed. After her third surgery, she tried a new chemotherapy treatment in the form of Lonsurf pills – but unfortunately, the treatment made her very sick and didn’t have the desired effect, with the tumours continuing to grow.
Radwah is currently part of a clinical trial to test a new treatment, and has CT scans scheduled to determine whether or not it is working.
In the meantime, the mum is dedicated to raising awareness – and ensuring other people don’t ignore the early symptoms like she did.
For colorectal cancer, that can include blood in the stool, a change to bowel habits including constipation and diarrhoea, and abdominal pain and cramping.
Radwah said: “Being diagnosed with stage four cancer in my 30s was something I never expected.
“My future plans have had to shift to accommodate my health, and while cancer has taken over much of my life, I refuse to let it steal my happiness.
“This experience serves as a reminder that even when bad things happen, there’s always something to be thankful for.
“Since my diagnosis, I’ve created a bucket list and slowly am living my life to the fullest while undergoing cancer treatment.
“I’m planning to swim with dolphins, visit the Grand Canyon, travel Europe, and go on a safari.
“I will not allow cancer to define me.
“Please learn from my mistakes – don’t think it can’t happen to you.
“Keep up with your annual appointments, and if something doesn’t feel right, speak up.
“If you disagree with your doctor’s prognosis, advocate for yourself until they listen and you’re satisfied with the care you’re receiving.
“Looking back, I regret not advocating for myself more – I wonder if I could have caught it earlier.”
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