While he was assuming the continuous weight loss to be the result of his workouts and strict diet, little did he know that he was unintentionally harboring a serious medical condition within.
Rob Gore, 40, father to three kids, missed early diagnosis assuming that his rapid weight loss is because of working too hard and not eating properly. He dismissed the symptoms of cancer, bowel cancer particularly. It was until his wife persuaded him to visit the doctor that the entire family was oblivious to the fact that Rob was actually having a serious medical condition, reports a UK based tabloid.
Rob missed the typical symptoms of bowel cancer like passing blood in stool. "By the time I received my diagnosis, I'd resigned myself to the fact it was something serious. I had bowel cancer and it had spread, with nodules in my liver and lung," he told the media.
Rob had six rounds of chemotherapy and got regular scans and checkups done.
Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer also known as colon cancer is when cancerous malignant cells form in the tissue of the colon. The typical symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stool or a change in bowel habits.
It is one of the most commonly occurring cancers and there are several risk factors like having a family history of colon cancer, a personal history of high-risk adenomas or polyps, obesity, smoking and drinking habits.
Experts at MayoClinic say, colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Over time some of these polyps can become colon cancers and suggests not to ignore polyps and recommends getting them medically tested so that they can be removed before they turn into cancer.
What are the common symptoms of bowel cancer?
Abdominal discomfort, feeling of not being able to empty the bowel at once, fatigue, bleeding or blood in stool, changes in bowel movement are some of the common signs of bowel cancer.
If not treated at the right time, bowel cancer is likely to spread to the liver and other places like lungs.
Cancer and weight loss
Unexplained weight loss is a reason for several complications, one of which can be cancer as well. According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology about 40 percent of people report an unexplained weight loss when they are first diagnosed with cancer.
People undergo extreme weight loss or wasting or cachexia as the disease progresses which is mainly because of loss of muscle mass.
