‘I was diagnosed with cancer at 28 and the biggest sign wasn’t what I expected’

Blood cancer survivor Dan is now cancer-free after being diagnosed aged 28, sharing how one surprise symptom which wasn’t lumps or weight loss was his key warning sign

A cancer survivor diagnosed with the condition at 28 has revealed how his primary symptom wasn’t one commonly linked to the condition. Dan, who has nearly 14,000 followers on TikTok where he posts as daninprogresss, frequently shares details about his diagnosis, treatment and recovery journey.

Having been declared cancer-free more than a year ago, he now dedicates himself to supporting others through their physical and mental rehabilitation. In a recent video, he discussed the principal symptom that prompted him to seek medical assistance, reports the Mirror.

“If I had to pick the biggest sign that I had cancer at 28, it wouldn’t be what most people think,” he said. “My name’s Dan, I got diagnosed with blood cancer at the age of 28 and I went into hospital for chemo and a transplant. Now I’m rebuilding my life both mentally and physically and trying to help as many people do the same as I can.”

He continued: “Most people, when it comes to cancer, think about lumps or sudden weight loss. For me it was fatigue.

“But when I say fatigue I don’t mean being tired for work or being tired after going to the gym the previous day. I mean doing absolutely nothing and feeling like you just run a marathon.

“For me, I just remember being out shopping and out of nowhere just coming across really lightheaded and faint and I started to see [those], like, squiggly lines in your eyes. And I was like, I need to go home, I don’t feel great.

“So I got home and just remember literally collapsing and falling asleep for like six or seven hours, and then, when I woke up I felt even worse than when I went to sleep. I just knew something wasn’t right.

“It just felt like my body was shutting down. I’m not gonna life, I was very lucky that I listened to my body when I did because that was just the start.”

Common signs of cancer

Identifying the possible warning signs of cancer at the earliest opportunity is crucial to ensuring treatment proves effective, according to Cancer Research UK. While there are numerous different indicators, the charity highlights some of the most frequently occurring:

General signs

• Heavy night sweats or fever
• Feeling more tired than usual
• Unexplained bleeding or bruising
• Unexplained pain or aches
• Unexplained weight loss
• An unusual lump or swelling anywhere on the body

Symptoms affecting the mouth, throat, or voice

• Croaky voice, hoarseness, or a cough that won’t go away
• A mouth or tongue ulcer that lasts longer than three weeks
• Difficulty swallowing

Symptoms affecting breasts or the chest

• Changes to the size, shape, or feel of breasts or the chest area, including the nipple

Symptoms affecting breathing

• Breathlessness
• Persistent cough

Symptoms affecting the tummy

• Persistent bloating or stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Persistent heartburn or indigestion

Symptoms affecting going to the toilet and the genitals

• Problems peeing
• Bowel changes
• Blood in poo or pee

Unexplained vaginal bleeding

• Symptoms affecting the skin
• A new mole, or changes to an existing mole

Changes to the skin or nails

• Sores that don’t heal
• Yellowing of the skin or eyes