I'm 25 and I have cancer that kills more than half of those who get it...there are two symptoms doctors dismissed
The Kentucky native was healthy, active, and cherished time with her friends and the four stepchildren she helped raise.
But when she began experiencing persistent exhaustion and aching bones, she turned to doctors for answers.
Physicians initially denied her tests saying she was 'too young for cancer', but after a lump was found on her chest they hey agreed to run further tests, and a biopsy was performed.
Days later, she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer that had spread to her ribs, spine, lungs, and possibly her skull. Doctors gave her just a 32 percent chance of surviving the next five years.
She said: 'I was in complete shock. I remember staring at the floor not knowing what to think, not knowing what was next, that was a big worry.
'I've had to grow up faster in a week than I have in 25 years.'
Caldwell is just one of the ever-increasing number of women diagnosed with breast cancer before they turn 50, which is now among the fastest growing cancers in the age group alongside colon cancer.
rising by up to 1.85 percent per year, with an extra 4,000 women being diagnosed with the cancer annually in the US compared to a decade ago.
While breast cancer in women in their 20s is rare, it's not unheard of. About 6.5 out of every 100,000 women in their 20s will receive a breast cancer diagnosis, according to the American Cancer Society
They remain puzzled by the surge, especially in healthy, young individuals, though some have pointed to possible environmental triggers or earlier onset of puberty as potential factors.
For Caldwell, who is from Russell,the diagnosis came with devastating physical symptoms.
Shortly after learning she had stage four breast cancer, the 25-year-old developed crippling back pain caused by a tumor pressing against her spine.
The pain became so severe it made walking and even basic movement difficult.
Doctors immediately began an aggressive treatment plan, starting with 12 rounds of chemotherapy.
Caldwell has already completed nine and may also undergo immunotherapy and radiation depending on how her body responds.
Revealing her story to local news station WSAZ, she said: 'At night, especially when with my kids, whenever we cuddle up... I look over... and I just hope I get to see them grow up.
'Things change minute-by-minute, but for the most part I am being very optimistic. I hope my will to fight can get me through.
'I want to fight, I want to live and I want my story to be a beautiful one no matter how long or short it is.'
Caldwell said the chemotherapy has gone well so far, but that she has started to lose her hair and has been losing weight rapidly, now being down to 88lbs.
In an update after her fourth round of chemotherapy in June, she said: 'Between the third and fourth chemo a lot has changed.
'My hair is thinning a lot, just yesterday I noticed it is coming out in clumps. I am still experiencing a lot of back pain, neck pain, [pain] in my ribs.
'Through the night, I wake up very nauseous and almost projectile vomiting and it is harder to eat.'
She added: 'I look forward to getting this over with, and getting through.'
After the ninth chemotherapy, she said she was 'still not sleeping much' but 'hanging in there'.
Doctors have diagnosed her with invasive ductal carcinoma, the most common form of breast cancer and behind about 80 percent of all cases.
Her friends have started a fundraiser online to raise money to help cover bills and complications linked to the chemotherapy.
On the page, they write: 'Savannah is not going to be able to work for a long time. Please help her fight this beast.
'She'd give the shirt off her back for any stranger she met. Let's come together and help her and her fiance!'
Research published earlier this year that analyzed 2.1million cases of early-onset cancer diagnosed between 2010 and 2019 found breast cancer, thyroid cancer and melanoma were the fastest rising among young women.
Among young men, colon cancer, testicular cancer and melanoma were the most likely to be diagnosed before someone turned 50 years old.
Doctors have also suggested that a trend toward having a first child at a later age could be a possible explanation for the rise in diagnoses.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Parasite warning as farm visitors told not to kiss or hug animals during lamb feeding events
People visiting farms to feed lambs have been warned not to kiss, cuddle or hold the animals after an outbreak of a severe parasitic infection. Health officials issued the alert amid fears over the spread of cryptosporidiosis, an infection which causes serious gastrointestinal illness. According to the BBC, Public Health Wales has urged farmers not to allow visitors to have close contact with the lambs during any visits this summer. The warning comes after public health officials launched an investigation into 74 cases of cryptosporidium, which were linked to visits to a petting farm in Vale of Glamorgan earlier this year. A four-year-old boy was among the 16 people rushed to hospital with the infection. There were also 17 outbreaks of cryptosporidiosis connected to farms in both England and Wales last year, the BBC reported. Cryptosporidium is a parasite that can cause gastrointestinal illness, often associated with contact with animals, especially young farm animals such as calves and lambs. The main symptoms of an infection include watery diarrhoea, stomach pains or cramps, nausea or vomiting, mild fever, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Symptoms usually start two to 10 days after contact with the parasite and can last for up to two weeks. Following the Vale of Glamorgan outbreak, public health experts warned people to avoid close contact with animals – including holding, cuddling or kissing – as this 'significantly' increases the risk of illness. While anyone is at risk of getting infected, it is particularly common among young children aged one to four. The parents of the four-year-old boy who was rushed to hospital spoke of their 'nightmare' ordeal at the time. Michael Carpenter, from Bridgend, visited Cowbridge Farm Shop at Marlborough Grange Farm in Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan, with his grandparents on 11 April. He followed the rules, washing his hands and using a hand sanitiser after stroking some lambs, but three days later, Michael's temperature rose and he suffered severe diarrhoea. He was later diagnosed with cryptosporidium. The boy's mother Kate told the BBC: 'It was an absolute nightmare.' Speaking of the parasite, his father Gareth said: 'It's only when something happens that you realise how serious it is. I would hate to see another parent go through the same thing.' How people can avoid cryptosporidium The UK Health Security Agency says that 'the good news is that cryptosporidiosis is preventable by following some simple hygiene steps'. Here are the agency's top tips to avoid infection:
Reuters
24 minutes ago
- Reuters
Global Experts Acknowledge TATA Wooden Door's Breakthrough in Urban Noise Control Through Scenario-Based Construction in China
BEIJING, China, July 24, 2025 (EZ Newswire) -- On July, 2025, during the United Nations High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, Dr. Zhang Qihua, President of the Global Alliance for Sustainable Development Foundation, opens new tab, pointed out in an interview: 'As focus stays on air and water, WHO ranks urban noise as the second-biggest environmental health risk.' Noise Pollution: A Neglected Global Health Threat 'In megacities over ten million, long-term noise exposure raises cardiovascular disease risk by 27%. This directly hinders the achievement of SDG3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities),' added Dr. Zhang. He emphasized that the acoustic environment is gaining attention in public health and governance. With 48% of residents suffering sleep disturbances, improving tranquility is no longer just technical—it's a systemic social task. Scenario-Based Innovation: A Chinese Breakthrough Approach In the relevant discussion, Dr. Zhang pointed out several outstanding cases from Chinese enterprises in reducing residential noise: 'We have observed that some Chinese companies are exploring more adaptable noise-reduction solutions tailored to the structural characteristics of local housing. For example, the Chinese brand TATA Wooden Door has developed quiet products tailored to family needs in small apartments, multi-generational homes, and elderly-friendly spaces. Such approaches also offer reference value for other developing countries.' He believes that the process of enabling residential scenarios through technology is not only a response to real pain points in families but also promotes the shift of "quietness" from a single function to a lifestyle component. Global Collaboration to Promote the Popularization of the 'Quiet Lifestyle' On how to promote the global adoption of the 'quiet lifestyle,' Dr. Zhang stated that the key lies in experience sharing and local adaptation. He believes that mature markets can share acoustic standards and governance mechanisms, while emerging markets offer valuable practices in product innovation and application scenarios. 'Cases like TATA Wooden Door show that acoustic optimization isn't limited by technology and can be implemented sustainably based on needs. Sharing practical cases through forums helps regions find suitable paths. When people begin choosing quiet products aligned with their lifestyles, it becomes a meaningful step toward better living environments,' Dr. Zhang concluded. About TATA Wooden Door TATA Wooden Door, established in 1999 in Beijing, has emerged as one of China's foremost wooden-room-door manufacturers. Renowned for its expert craftsmanship, environmental innovation, and stylish designs, TATA offers a wide selection of interior doors—painted, paint‑free, glazed, or fully solid—all engineered from premium fir, plywood, MDF, or oak. Utilizing urea‑free adhesives, hot‑pressed veneers, imported PU coatings, and patented magnetic seals, their products resist warping, termites, moisture, and noise. Backed by over 25 years of expertise, BIM-support, free quoting, precise installation, and award-winning quality (including use in the National Stadium and a Luban Award), TATA delivers reliable performance for modern residential and commercial projects. For more information, visit opens new tab. Media Contact Jiang Yutongservice@ ### SOURCE: TATA Wooden Door Copyright 2025 EZ Newswire See release on EZ Newswire
Daily Mail
24 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Doctors told us our newborn's grunting was just normal 'baby noise'... but now she is on life support
Imagine the devastation of finding out that what you thought were normal 'baby noises' were actually a sign that your newborn was in severe distress. It seems like every parent's nightmare - but it was a reality for Stephanie Mulhall-Atkinson, 37, and Justin Atkinson, 33. The couple, from Canada, welcomed their daughter, Sloane, in October 2024, and immediately after her birth, they noticed the newborn was making strange 'noises' that sounded like she was 'grunting.' But doctors assured them that she was just extra vocal, declared Sloane as 'perfectly healthy,' and 'released her without any concern.' Six weeks later, Stephanie and Justin watched their daughter go from 'a happy, smiley, and chatty' baby to 'intubated in the PICU' and fighting for her life. While chatting with the Daily Mail about the horrific ordeal, Stephanie explained, 'We raised concern [about her grunting noises] to many different doctors and nurses while we were in the hospital for five days post-birth, including the pediatrician. 'They all said that her lungs sounded clear so she was fine and that she was just a vocal baby making normal baby sounds.' The grunting didn't stop after they brought Sloane home, but Stephanie just assumed it was normal baby gargling because that's what the hospital doctors had told her. 'We were told that it was just her baby noises and that she was very vocal,' she explained. But Sloane began to develop other symptoms. She was sometimes sweaty and seemed extra fussy any time she was held. And when she was about six-and-a-half weeks old, things took a drastic turn when the infant suddenly stopped eating. Stephanie and Justin also noticed a 'very faint blue tint around her mouth,' so they took her to the emergency room. '[When we got there] she was making her grunting noises. As soon as the doctors heard the noises they asked if she had always done that and we said yes and that we were told it was just her normal baby noise,' recalled Stephanie. 'We were then told that it actually is a sign of distress and not normal at all. Everything escalated from there.' Doctors rushed to do tests on the youngster to figure out what was wrong, and they then got the heartbreaking news that Sloane's heart was not working properly. 'They performed an echocardiogram to get a picture of her heart and as soon as the image popped up on the screen we saw the look of "I knew it" on the ER doctor's face,' Stephanie continued. '"Her heart is barely pumping" is all we really remember hearing. She was rushed up to the PICU, sedated and intubated immediately.' Stephanie and Justin soon learned that their newborn was battling something known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which was caused by a 'genetic mutation.' It meant her heart was 'very enlarged' and 'unable to pump hard enough on its own.' They were told she was in end stage heart failure and that she would require a heart transplant to survive. 'There are no words to describe those first acute days and weeks and hearing that your tiny baby needs a heart transplant,' Stephanie said. 'It was an out of body experience. Your brain cannot comprehend that.' They were especially 'devastated and angry' that the doctors after she gave birth had been so dismissive, which meant their little Sloane had spent weeks in distress. 'For the six weeks we had her home we just thought her noises were cute. Finding out that it meant she had been in distress that whole time was unbearable,' Stephanie scathed. 'It should have raised red flags [with the doctors] because [we now know that] grunting a sign of distress in babies.' Sloane is now on a life support device and has been living in the hospital for the past seven months while awaiting her transplant. Stephanie and Justin have raised over $25,000 on GoFundMe, which has made it possible for them to be by her side every step of the way. 'Thanks to the support we have received financially we've been able to both take time off from working and completely focus our attention on her,' shared Stephanie. And she revealed that her daughter is 'thriving' all things considered. 'The device has allowed her to grow and develop "normally." She is the happiest baby EVER and she truly is thriving,' the mom-of-one concluded.
