Stomach cancer is on the rise in young women under 55 and there is no definitive understanding among scientists of why this is happening.
The condition is often more aggressive at diagnosis, making early detection essential to survival.
Alex Jade, 31, was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer after spotting her first symptoms around April 2022.
Three years have passed since the first signs emerged, prompting her to describe the ordeal in a TikTok clip.
Alex was plagued with acid reflux for months
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Alex's first symptom was debilitating heartburn which became noticeably worse after eating wings. She explained she was sick during the initial episode.
“That whole month of April, I continued to have stomach pain, and the heartburn persisted after that," she said.
“It was very bad heartburn - it felt like there was a fire going down my oesophagus, and it would come on after I ate certain things. Sometimes, it would happen in the morning.
“I had stomach pain that almost felt like a gnawing sensation, kind of like when you’re so hungry you’re starving. It felt like that. It would sometimes happen first thing in the morning, so I thought I just needed to eat, but then it would occur randomly throughout the day.”
At the same time, she experienced neck and back pain, describing it as a soreness that made her feel like she “had to stretch”.
Alex initially took medication to treat her symptoms because doctors attributed them to a probable case of GERD. But despite receiving treatment, she reported having “the worst two weeks” of her life the following September.
“I had this terrible heartburn - I literally felt like my throat was on fire," she said. “It felt like an elephant was sitting on my chest.
“There was intense heaviness in my oesophagus. I had terrible stomach pain and bloating. I would wake up in the morning and look six months pregnant. I was so exhausted I would go to my apartment during lunch breaks and nap sometimes.”
The stage 4 gastric cancer diagnosis was confirmed after she underwent an endoscopy, she revealed.
Heartburn can be a tell-tale sign of gastric cancer
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Though Alex's acid reflux was prominent, it should be noted that a burning sensation in the chest can be a symptom of other, significantly milder conditions.
“Lots of people get heartburn from time to time,” notes the NHS website. “There’s often no obvious reason why.”
The health body adds that certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, tomatoes, alcohol, chocolate, and fatty or spicy foods, can be the cause.
“Speak to a pharmacist for advice if you keep getting heartburn,” it advised. “They may recommend medicines called antacids or alginates that can help ease your symptoms.”
