A FIT and healthy woman assumed an ache in her chest was caused by an ill-fitting bra – but it was something far more sinister, as doctors discovered 20 tumours in her liver.
Radwah Oda was in “excellent health”, exercising up to five times a week and eating a clean diet.
But she started experiencing strange symptoms including extreme fatigue, loss of appetite and stomach issues – which she put down to potential IBS.
The 33-year-old grew concerned as the problems persisted, including a pain in her right side just beneath her breast.
“At first, I thought it might be due to my bra being too tight, even though the discomfort was only on one side,” said Radwah, who works as a risk control analyst in Houston, Texas.
As she was generally fit and healthy, Radwah came up with answers for many of her symptoms, assuming dark blood in her stool was down to a hernia.
She had no idea something more serious was actually at play.
Radwah 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 uncovered the horrifying truth – that Radwah had stage four bowel cancer that had spread to her liver.
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”NHS rolls out bowel cancer screening to 50 and 52-year-olds after Dame Debs’ campaigning ” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6367039528112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]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.”
‘Learn from my mistakes’
Radwah started chemotherapy the following month, completing 12 rounds before undergoing three surgeries.
The first, in May 2022, involved the removal of part of her 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.
She then tried a new chemotherapy treatment, which unfortunately made her very sick and failed to eradicate her cancer, as the tumours continued 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 bowel cancer, that can include blood in your poo, a change to bowel habits including constipation and diarrhoea, and abdominal pain and cramping.
When bowel cancer spreads to the liver, it can cause pain in the right side of the abdomen, as well as nausea, poor appetite, weight loss, a swollen stomach and itchy, yellowing skin.
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.”
