A 35-year-old woman, Linda Chavez, has shared the five symptoms she ignored

before her terminal cancer diagnosis. Chavez was diagnosed with stage-four

Metastatic Bronchial Carcinoma, a lung cancer that had already spread to

her brain, spine, lymph nodes, and adrenal gland. She uses TikTok

(@theterminalcancershow) to share her journey and raise awareness.

Chavez ignored a persistent cough she had for years. Initially minor,

it eventually became painful and “piercing in [her] chest.” She urged

others: “Please do not ignore a persistent cough.” Constant headaches

were another overlooked symptom. For nine months, she woke up with

severe headaches caused by cancer spreading to her brain.

She also experienced extreme fatigue, struggling to breathe due to pain

during inhaling and exhaling. Another symptom was nausea, linked to brain

metastases affecting hunger and nausea centers. Chavez added: “I was

very, very nauseous toward getting diagnosed.”

Lastly, Chavez suffered pulsating bone pain, describing it as feeling

like a stubbed toe across her entire body. Her brother-in-law revealed

she now has leptomeningeal dissemination disease, where cancer spreads

to the brain’s fluid cells. Despite her condition, Chavez continues

to inspire her followers, raising over $40,000 for her treatment.

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to

someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.