Cancer at 29: Indian entrepreneur story shows why ignoring stress can be fatal
Early Signs Ignored
How Stress and Lifestyle Habits Raise Cancer Risk
Live Events
(You can now subscribe to our
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death globally, often linked to genes and environmental factors. Yet, lifestyle and hidden triggers can play an equally dangerous role. For 29-year-old entrepreneur Monika Choudhary, the disease came as a shocking wake-up call. In an Instagram post, she shared how stress and neglect of her well-being eventually culminated in a stage-4 colorectal cancer diagnosis — despite her otherwise healthy habits.Monika explained that she had always been conscious of her health. She avoided junk food, maintained a balanced diet, and kept fitness at the center of her routine. But once she started building her own website, work slowly consumed every part of her life. Long hours, constant deadlines, and excessive screen time turned her days sedentary. Evening runs and physical activity — once her stress relievers — disappeared completely. 'I told myself I'd get back to it soon, but that 'soon' never came,' she admitted.As time passed, her body began sending signals: fatigue, uneasiness, and general discomfort. Monika brushed them off, blaming lack of sleep or work-related exhaustion. But the reality was far more severe. The diagnosis of stage-4 colorectal cancer was not just devastating but also eye-opening. 'This wasn't just bad luck. It was stress, burnout, and neglect catching up with me. Our body always keeps the score,' she wrote.While no single factor directly causes cancer, stress, overwork, and poor sleep significantly weaken the body's defenses. Chronic stress raises cortisol and adrenaline levels, leading to DNA damage and inflammation, which allow abnormal cells to thrive. Overworking, often paired with poor diet and lack of exercise, has been linked to higher risks of breast, lung, and colorectal cancers. Similarly, insufficient sleep disrupts melatonin production, weakens immunity, and damages DNA, making the body more vulnerable to disease.Monika's journey is a harsh reminder that ambition should never come at the cost of health. Managing stress, maintaining physical activity, and ensuring proper rest remain crucial pillars of cancer prevention.Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for professional medical advice.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Tired Of Waxing? Future Humans May Not Have Body Hair! List Of Body Parts That Are 'Disappearing'
Last Updated: Future humans could see a world without body hair, wisdom teeth and other quirky features as evolution gradually phases them out over thousands of years. If the thought of waxing your body hair makes you groan, there's good news for future generations. Humans may not need to worry about it at all. According to an Instagram Reel by content creator Sam Beres, several body parts are gradually disappearing from the human population, and humans may be next in line for some evolutionary surprises. 'Here are some body parts that are disappearing, so enjoy them while they last," Beres says, highlighting just how much our anatomy is changing over time. One of the most familiar examples is wisdom teeth. These third molars are vanishing worldwide, with 35% of people born today missing them entirely. 'This is because our jaws are becoming smaller due to changes in diet. Full disappearance will happen within 10 to 20,000 years," Beres says. Body hair, long considered essential for warmth and camouflage, is also slowly fading. 'We're expected to lose that in about 20,000 years," Beres notes, meaning future humans might be permanently smooth-skinned. Tiny toes are also shrinking with each generation, and male nipples, of which only 0.0001% can lactate. 'Both are expected to leave us in about 100,000 years," he says. Small, quirky features are disappearing too. Darwin's point, which is a little fold on the top of the ear found in about 10% of people, is likely to be gone in around 100,000 years. Meanwhile, the palmaris longus muscle in the forearm, once used for climbing trees, is missing in 65% of Indians today and absent in 15% of people globally, suggesting it may vanish soon. Here's the clip: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sam Beres (@sambucha) Evolution is relentless, and these changes remind us that our bodies are always adapting. While it might be sad to say goodbye to these features, the reel leaves one message clear, that is to enjoy them while they last. So, the next time you gripe about waxing or stubby little toes, remember that future humans may not have to deal with these at all. Buzz Staff A team of writers at bring you stories on what's creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. view comments Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: August 22, 2025, 07:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Loading comments...
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Skip Melatonin, Nutritionist Recommends These 7 Foods And Drinks For Better Sleep
We have all been there: lying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, while our minds refuse to switch off. A restless night leaves you feeling tired, drains your energy, makes you irritable and affects your focus the next day. Over time, lack of sleep can also impact your mood, memory, and overall health. Nutritionist Lovneet Batra suggests a simple solution before turning to melatonin supplements: focus on sleep-friendly foods. These foods naturally calm your nervous system, balance hormones, and support deep, restorative sleep. In a post on Instagram, she has highlighted seven powerful bedtime foods and drinks that can help you relax and improve sleep quality, making restless nights less frequent. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovneet Batra (@lovneetb) The first is pumpkin seeds, which are loaded with magnesium and tryptophan. She mentioned, "Magnesium boosts GABA (your brain's calming chemical), while tryptophan turns into serotonin and indirectly supports melatonin production." So, it calms nerves and supports serotonin. Another food is banana which is rich in B6, potassium and tryptophan. Ms Batra stated that bananas relax muscles, regulate your nervous system, and help your brain convert tryptophan into serotonin (your sleep-starter) and helps you fall asleep. Another magnesium-rich option is almonds. They lower cortisol, the stress hormone and promotes muscle relaxation for uninterrupted sleep. For drinks, Ms Batra recommended chamomile tea, which contains apigenin, a flavonoid that binds to calming receptors in the brain, reducing anxiety and promoting relaxation before bed. Another recommended drink is valerian root tea, whose compounds, like valerenic acid, help enhance GABA activity and shorten the time it takes to fall asleep. She further mentioned that having tart cherries is also a good bedtime food, as it is low in melatonin but rich in polyphenols and tryptophan, which helps in serotonin production and reducing oxidative stress, a hidden sleep disruptor. The next powerful, according to Ms Batra is golden almond milk, turmeric and Cardamom. She said, "Turmeric's curcumin reduces inflammation and stabilizes mood, while cardamom soothes digestion and calms the nervous system," adding, "Perfect night-time comfort drink." Ms Batra also suggested beverages like the cinnamon coconut refresher, which helps balance T3 hormone levels while hydrating, and the nigella pomegranate cooler, which boosts T3 and lowers antibodies. She explained that these foods and drinks were chosen because they naturally prepare the body for sleep by calming stress hormones, improving serotonin pathways, and supporting your gut-brain connection.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
CDSCO issues alert on Novo drugs after reported theft
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization ( CDSCO ) has issued an alert to healthcare professionals to be careful in prescribing Novo Nordisk products after the company said some of its products, including weight-loss drug semaglutide and diabetes treatments insulin Aspart and Degludec, were central pharma regulator has also directed patients and consumers to be careful and procure their products from authorised sources only with due alert, issued Thursday, has also been sent to all state drug control offices with instructions of a strict vigil on the movement of the products in the market and initiate necessary action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, note says Novo Nordisk has informed about a theft of its products during transit from its Bhiwandi Hub to milk route (Nagpur, Raipur, Cuttack, and Kolkata).The products under consideration are rDNA origin injectables which are required to be stored at a certain temperature and quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions."The products under consideration are DNA origin injectables which are required to be stored at 2-8°C. The quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions since the formulations are supposed to be maintained at 2°C to 8°C failing which, would impact the quality of the product and in turn impact the safety of the patients," said the advisory by India's drug matter is currently under Police investigation, it email sent to Novo Nordisk did not elicit any response till the press time.
