Trigger warning: This article includes discussions about cancer, which may be upsetting for some readers.
A single mother battling stage four colon cancer has spoken out to raise awareness about the symptoms she initially dismissed.
Radwah Oda, a Texas-based mum trying to balance raising her child and holding down her office job, recently shared her heartbreaking story after receiving her diagnosis.
In a TikTok video that has now been viewed over 2.3 million times, she opened up about the warning signs she overlooked, mistakenly thinking they were minor health issues.
Her message to others is clear: “If you have any of these symptoms, please don’t be concerned, but go see a doctor.” She’s encouraging people to “advocate for themselves,” noting that many are initially told their symptoms aren’t cancer.
Radwah detailed five key symptoms in her video, urging others to pay attention to their bodies and seek medical advice when something feels off.
Changes in stool
One of the most common signs of colon cancer is changes in your bowel habits. And for Oda, it was the first subtle sign that she noticed.
Her stool appeared to be thin and pencil-like, but she brushed the symptom off as ‘constipation’.
She also noticed blood in her stool, but assumed that it was as a result of haemorrhoids.
However, in younger patients, a 2024 study highlighted blood in stool as one of two top ‘red flag’ symptoms.
She also noted feeling like her bowels were never fully empty.
In the video, she said: “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.”
Unexplained Pain
While abdominal discomfort is a well-known symptom of colon cancer, pain in other parts of the body can indicate that the cancer has spread.
Oda experienced pain on the right side of her body, near her breast.
She explained: “I just assumed my bra was too tight, even though it was just on one side.”
In reality, the cancer had metastasized to her liver.
Chronic Fatigue
In addition to dealing with physical pain and noticeable changes in her bowel habits, she also suffered from constant exhaustion—regardless of how much sleep she got.
She recalled: “I would still need to take a nap a few times during the day and nothing really helped.”
Cancer-related fatigue occurs because cancer cells deplete the body’s energy reserves.
Other Symptoms
In another video, she shared some of the less common symptoms she experienced before her diagnosis.
These included unexplained weight loss, a diminished appetite, and persistent stomach pain.
Until her doctors diagnosed her condition, she attributed these issues to what she believed was a “really bad stomach bug.”
If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s crucial to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
For confidential support, you can contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line at 0808 808 00 00, available from 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week.
