By Amber Woods, as told to Newsweek
Throughout my life, I have always prioritized my health and fitness by eating clean, running, going to the gym and rarely drinking alcohol. Naturally, I thought my lifestyle put me in good stead, but, after graduating from university, there was a noticeable shift.
In May 2025, my symptoms seemed to get more and more prominent. I felt exhausted constantly because I was not getting enough sleep, and what little rest I did manage was of terrible quality. I would also wake up in the night drenched in sweat and frequently had to get up to use the bathroom.
The problems did not just happen during the night either. I had extreme abdominal pain, which got so much worse whenever I wore tight or fitted clothes. It got to the point where I could no longer wear anything high-waisted because it would make me feel sick. On the odd occasion I actually drank alcohol, I would automatically vomit after.
The longer it went on, the harder it was to ignore the symptoms. I thought I was extremely healthy and athletic, but when I tried to go to the gym or for a run, I could not get through the full workout. Walking 10,000 steps in a day used to be easy for me, but even that became really difficult to accomplish.
It wasn’t normal for me, but I convinced myself that I was just out of shape.
I found myself having to wake up at odd hours of the night just to eat crackers or bread to avoid the nausea and abdominal pain. After a couple of months, I went to see my doctor because the symptoms kept getting worse. They told me it was just acid reflux, even though they never offered me any testing to confirm this diagnosis.
I had no reason not to believe the doctors at the time. I even wondered if I could be allergic to alcohol since a lot of the vomiting occurred whenever I had a drink. But, by November, I started vomiting every day regardless of what I ate or drank. The abdominal pain and bloating also got more severe and debilitating.
I was doing everything I could, but nothing worked. The excess acid became so unbearable by December that I had to rush to the ER. This was not me being out of shape or an alcohol allergy; I knew it was more than that. I pushed for a blood test, ultrasound and a CAT scan at the hospital, and that is when they found it.
What seemed like acid reflux turned out to be pancreatic cancer. I was diagnosed on December 30 at the age of 25, leaving me shocked, scared, confused and saddened. It is hard to describe how that moment feels, but I never imagined this could happen to me.
Within 10 minutes, I was being wheeled up to the radiology department so they could biopsy my liver. Everything happened so fast, I did not even have the chance to process everything properly.
As soon as the doctor left the room, I just started crying. You’re not supposed to hear that you have cancer at 25—or at any young age really. It was the day before New Year’s Eve, but there was no excitement about what the next year had in store. The biopsy revealed that it was Stage 4 pancreatic cancer that had metastasized to the liver. So, not only did I have cancer in my twenties, but it was already very advanced.
A few months have passed since my diagnosis, and I am currently receiving oral chemotherapy in a pill form as this is said to be the best way of treating the type of cancer that I have as the tumors are neuroendocrine. I am just trying to remain positive—I think that’s really important with a Stage 4 diagnosis. So far, my doctors describe me at being healthy overall, aside from the cancer.
My symptoms make so much sense now when I look back, but I had no idea at the time. It was easy to think I was out of shape or had an intolerance because cancer seemed so implausible.
I urge people to be your own best health advocate. You know your body better than anyone else, so don’t ever let anyone diminish how you feel. If you think you need more tests, push for them until you get answers.
Oftentimes, doctors will dismiss you for being too young or say that you are feeling what you feel because you are a woman, and they refuse to investigate further. Do not accept these as sufficient answers, and do not think that cancer is a death sentence.
Amber Woods, 25, a musician who previously competed in The X Factor, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. She has been documenting her cancer battle on social media (@amberwoods_ on TikTok and @amberwoodsmusic on Instagram) to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer. She is also fundraising for her treatment and ongoing medical bills on GoFundMe.
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