Hong Kong artist and freelance writer Helen Law was just 38 when she was diagnosed with stage-three colorectal cancer.
She had been feeling tired and weak in the months leading up to the diagnosis, but was unaware that these were symptoms of cancer.
“I thought I was just sleep deprived,” Law, now 49, says.
“One day, after rushing to cross the street during my lunch break, I felt so out of breath that I had to sit and rest before walking back to my office.”
She saw a doctor, who ordered a blood test that confirmed she was anaemic – her red blood cell count was low. Follow-up tests including an endoscopy and colonoscopy revealed a malignant tumour in her colon.
Law was shocked to learn of the cancer because she was so young.