How me and my Dad fought cancer?

 

Note: We have decided to keep the person involved anonymous. So I request not to feel sorry or contact the person involved because it takes different people different time and ways to heal themselves and move on with their lives. 

 
"Life isn't what we wished for, right? Sometimes it can be harsh especially for those who have been nothing but good to others.
My father was everything to me. He was a friend, supporter, and inspiration to all of us. I haven't seen a person who could be so loving and kind. He was the strongest and a great inspiration for my entire family. I would not do anything to let him down.
How my father was diagnosed with cancer?
My father was having problems with passing stool which indirectly caused him leg pain. It wasn't immediately diagnosed. At first, it was diagnosed as gastroenteritis, but they also suggested there could be a chance of colon cancer. So we did the screening and found out that there was a tumor in his colon rectum. We found out at stage 4. At this stage, it has started spreading to other organs.
I didn't quite understand how impactful it could be. But my father was very confident that he could fight and overcome cancer.
Treatment process:
The process of treatment started within a week. Symptoms of Chemotherapy depend on person to person. At first, it wasn't that bad. But later, it caused a lot of pain like nausea, numbness in the tongue, giddiness. General symptoms are weight loss, loss of appetite, hair fall. He didn't opt for surgery because he wasn't quite sure about it. He chose to go with indigenous and English medicine. It came with certain food restrictions.

Bad timing:
Covid made it hard for us to get proper treatment. We were prescribed medicines that didn't work for him at this stage.
We failed to recognize the early symptoms. So I would request everyone to get screening tests which might seem scary to think about the possibility of cancer. But it is better to get diagnosed at an early stage which is quite curable."

 

What is a colon tumor?
Colon tumor basically starts with small clumps of cells(called polyps). Polyps are very small and few, so it is difficult to identify and remove at an early stage.
Causes:
Healthy cells form in the colon. Cells' DNA tells them what to do. When cells' DNA is damaged, new cells form (even when it is not needed), which forms a tumor.
Symptoms:
Symptoms vary from person to person based on the size and place of cancer cells.
1. Persistent change in bowel movements-diarrhea/constipation
2. Rectal bleeding in stool
3. Discomfort in abdomen(gas,cramps)
4. Fatigue or /and unexplained weight loss.
Risk factors:

 
1. Old age: People generally older than 50 have a higher chance than younger people, says research.
2. Personal history with colon-rectal cancer: If the person has/had a history with it, there is a chance that it might occur again
3. Eating low fiber, high-fat foods like red meat, processed meat, etc
4. Sedentary lifestyle,smoking,alcohol consumption
5. Diabetes and/or obesity

 
Lifestyle changes:
1. Eat healthy, wholesome foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, etc
2. Have some physical exercise
3. Maintain a healthy weight

Disclaimer: This blog was intended to educate and create awareness about cancer only