Dr Ursina Teitelbaum is a medical oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania

A doctor has shared two things she does to avoid a very common type of cancer – and the symptoms you should never ignore. 

Dr Ursina Teitelbaum is a medical oncologist at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is part of the gastrointestinal cancer program.

The doctor revealed that while you can never predict who will get colon cancer, there are several things you can do to avoid the illness or make sure you catch it early.

Dr Teitelbaum told Huffpost that while colorectal cancer is the third-most common type of cancer around the world, it’s difficult to detect early on because its symptoms are often dismissed.

Common symptoms of the cancer include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, anal or rectal pain, lumps, unexpected weight loss, fatigue, and anaemia. 

1. Don’t ignore abnormal symptoms or ‘warning’ signs – even if you’re young

Dr Teitelbaum claimed that younger adults rarely think their strange symptoms could be cancer – which is dangerous because health professionals have the same bias.

Ignoring the warning signs could lead to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes – which is why it’s essential you listen to your body. 

‘Look out for any changes in bowel habits,’ Dr Teitelbaum stressed. ‘If you have always pooped on schedule but now frequently feel constipated, or notice blood in your stool and have abdominal pain, it’s worth talking to a doctor.’

She added that you should also see a doctor if you have unexplained diarrhea, fatigue, or sudden anaemia.

It’s advised to get a second opinion if you believe your GP isn’t taking you seriously. 

A healthy lifestyle will reduce your risk of colon cancer 

2. Live an active lifestyle with a healthy diet – it really does help 

Colorectal cancer has been commonly linked to various lifestyle choices like smoking cigarettes, consumption of alcohol, and being physically inactive.

A person’s diet is also a significant factor – with a high volume of red meats, processed foods, and confectionery items like biscuits and lollies being linked to a higher risk of colon cancer.

Dr Teitelbaum said, ‘There’s no perfect predictor for colon cancer, but globally, a healthy lifestyle may help in avoiding it.’

A fit and healthy nurse who was diagnosed with stage three colorectal cancer at 29 knows all too well the struggle of the disease, and shared the two subtle ‘warning signs’ she experienced she wants all young people to know.

Mum-of-three Talitha Akamarmoi, from the NSW Central Coast, experienced symptoms of chronic fatigue and iron deficiency for about six months prior to the diagnosis. 

At first doctors and colleagues put it down to the fact that she was recovering from a post-partum haemorrhage and maintained a ‘poor’ vegetarian diet – and because of her age it was unlikely to be anything serious. 

But after requiring three iron transfusions she eventually had a colonoscopy that found a ‘long’ tumour in her large intestine causing the issues. 

Talitha Akamarmoi, from Central Coast, NSW (pictured bottom right with her three kids) was diagnosed with stage two colorectal cancer at 29

‘I was nervous about getting a colonoscopy, I work with the colorectal surgeons, but knew I was in the best care,’ Talitha, now 31, told FEMAIL.

‘The surgeon came in, closed the curtain around him and said “We’ve found the cause of your anaemia, there’s no easy way to say this, you’ve been slowly bleeding from a tumour in your colon”. 

‘I was in complete shock when I found out, I burst into tears and I didn’t want to believe it.’

Talitha has a history of bowel cancer in the family with her grandfather suffering from the deadly disease in his early 50s.

‘I was in complete shock when I found out, I burst into tears and I didn’t want to believe it’

Talitha had laparoscopic surgery to remove her entire right half of the colon and surrounding lymph nodes, then had to wait another week for the pathology results. 

‘Whilst I was losing blood, I think part of it was being reabsorbed before it got round to the end, then I wasn’t noticing anything that was left over in the stools,’ she said.

Unfortunately the cancer had spread to four lymph nodes, and so chemotherapy was required.

Today testing shows no current signs of cancer in the body, body she’ll require check-ups for the next three months indefinitely. 

Talitha’s biggest piece of advice to all young people is to be an advocate for your health because bowel cancer isn’t just an ‘old person’s disease’.

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