I recently received heartbreaking news from a friend. His uncle, diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, is now bedridden. Doctors believe he may have only hours—or at most a few days—left. His blood pressure is dropping rapidly, his skin has turned yellow, and he is unable to keep food down. These signs suggest that vital organs such as the liver and kidneys may already be failing. (Update: Just received news few hours later that his uncle has already passed RIP. Life can be so fragile.)
The reason why I am writing this out is because this is not only a tragic incident, but also it is a sobering reminder of how devastating colon cancer can be when detected late—and why digestive health deserves far more attention than it currently gets.
What Happens When Colon Cancer Reaches Advanced Stages
Cancer begins when cells grow and divide uncontrollably. In early stages (Stage 1 or 2), the cancer is often localized. At this point, surgery, chemotherapy, and the body’s own immune response may still be able to control or significantly slow the disease.
However, in late stages (Stage 3 and especially Stage 4), cancer cells spread aggressively to nearby lymph nodes and distant organs such as the liver, lungs, or bones. Colon cancer is particularly dangerous because the colon is highly vascular and sits close to many vital organs. Once the cancer metastasises, affected organs gradually lose their ability to function.
Yellowing of the skin (which my friend’s uncle had) (jaundice) often indicates liver involvement. Persistent vomiting can occur when tumors obstruct the digestive tract. At this stage, treatment options become limited, and aggressive interventions may only prolong suffering rather than restore quality of life.
Late Detection Is Common—and Often Fatal
Many people assume colon cancer only affects older individuals or smokers. This is no longer true. Colon cancer has become one of the most common cancers among non-smokers, and cases among younger adults are rising at an alarming rate. Many people believe this is due to unhealthy lifestyle habits such as a poor diet and lack of quality sleep and excessive stress.
The most dangerous aspect of colon cancer is that early stages are often silent. Symptoms such as mild constipation, bloating, or irregular bowel movements are easily ignored. By the time severe symptoms appear, the disease may already be advanced. This is also a reason why regular colonoscopies can be very essential in detecting early developments of colon cancer. This is perhaps one of the best ways to reduce deaths caused by this terrible disease.
Stories shared by our friends echo a painful pattern: surgery followed by recurrence, rapid decline, and loss within years, if not months. These are not rare exceptions—they are increasingly common outcomes of late-stage diagnosis.
Digestive Health Is Not Optional
A healthy colon depends on regular, comfortable bowel movements. Chronic constipation, frequent straining, and long-standing digestive discomfort should never be normalized. Hemorrhoids, persistent bloating, or difficulty passing stool may seem minor, but they often signal deeper issues in gut health.
Diet plays a major role. A lack of dietary fibre, low vegetable intake, and excessive reliance on refined carbohydrates and processed foods can slow bowel transit and increase exposure of the colon lining to harmful substances.
Ignoring vegetables or avoiding fibre-rich foods may feel harmless in the short term, but over years, these habits can significantly increase risk.
Processed Meat, Red Meat, and Colon Cancer Risk
Strong scientific evidence links certain dietary patterns to colorectal cancer risk.
Processed meats—such as bacon, sausages, ham, and hot dogs—are classified as definite carcinogens. These foods contain nitrates and nitrites, which can form cancer-causing compounds in the gut and damage DNA.
Red meat—including beef, pork, and lamb—is classified as a probable carcinogen. It contains heme iron, which can promote the formation of harmful compounds in the digestive tract. Cooking methods like grilling or frying at high temperatures further increase risk by producing mutagenic substances.
This does not mean red meat must be eliminated entirely, but moderation, cooking methods, and dietary balance matter greatly.
Obesity, Inactivity, and Bowel Regularity
Colon cancer rates have risen alongside obesity rates worldwide. Excess body fat is associated with chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and hormonal changes that can promote cancer growth.
Physical activity plays a surprisingly important role in colon health. Regular movement stimulates bowel activity, reduces transit time, and helps maintain a healthier gut environment. Walking, even at moderate intensity, can significantly improve digestive regularity.
Sedentary lifestyles, combined with high-calorie, low-fibre diets, create ideal conditions for disease to develop silently over time.
What About Fasting and Autophagy?
Autophagy is a natural cellular process where the body recycles damaged or old cells. It is an important mechanism for cellular health and maintenance. While laboratory and animal studies suggest autophagy may play a role in suppressing abnormal cells, fasting is not a treatment for cancer and should never be used as a substitute for medical care.
Extreme fasting can be dangerous, especially for individuals with existing illness. However, maintaining metabolic health through balanced nutrition, avoiding overeating, and allowing regular digestive rest may support overall health and resilience. Any dietary intervention should always be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional.
The Most Powerful Tool: Early Screening
Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers—when detected early. Screening methods such as stool tests and colonoscopy can identify precancerous polyps before they turn malignant.
If you have a family history of colon cancer, digestive symptoms, or are above screening age, delaying testing can be fatal. Early detection does not just improve survival—it can mean complete cure.
A Final Reminder
Cancer does not only affect the patient. It reshapes the lives of families left behind. Watching a loved one deteriorate rapidly is a trauma that never fully fades. This story is meant to be a reminder for all of us to start realising the risks of colon cancer.
Colon health should not be an afterthought. It is foundational to our wellbeing. Eat fibre-rich foods, move your body regularly, pay attention to bowel habits, and take screening seriously. Small daily choices, made consistently over years, can mean the difference between prevention and irreversible loss. If you like the message shared in this article, please forward this webpage to the people you care about.
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