From diligent student to cancer patient: A 23 y/o's warning about ignoring body signals

After 16 years of relentless studying, a 23-year-old academic achiever seemed to have a bright future ahead on his path to a doctorate. However, his dedication came at a terrible cost. By chronically ignoring his body's warning signs, he was diagnosed with advanced gastric cancer. The treatment has been arduous, involving vomiting blood and a drastic 30-kilogram weight loss, yet he refuses to give up hope, longing to conquer the disease and return to campus to pursue his dreams.

According to reports from Chinese media, 23-year-old PhD student Zhang Rui, who shares his cancer battle with 19,000 followers on the platform Douyin, is living this nightmare. After 16 years of hard work, he scored over 650 points in the 2020 Gaokao (Mainland university entrance exam), earning him a place at Sun Yat-sen University. After graduating in 2024, his academic career advanced further when he was recommended for postgraduate studies, beginning a five-year direct PhD program. However, just as he was fully pursuing his academic dreams, the disease was silently taking hold.

In July 2025, Zhang began experiencing symptoms like stomach bloating, difficulty eating, and lower back pain. But with his mind completely focused on his studies and experiments, he paid them no heed. The back pain was initially suspected to be caused by kidney stones. But after a detailed gastroenteroscopy, the devastating diagnosis came: advanced gastric cancer, with the cancer cells having already metastasized to multiple sites.

Zhang openly admits that since starting university, his daily routine and lifestyle became extremely irregular. He often ate irregularly, sometimes going hungry, sometimes overeating. He believes this, combined with immense academic pressure and negative emotions, may have been the primary cause of his illness. Furthermore, his grandmother had suffered from thyroid cancer, and his mother has long had poor gastrointestinal function. Although no immediate family members were diagnosed with cancer, this family medical history likely also placed him at a higher risk for developing the disease.

Since his diagnosis, Zhang has undergone more than ten rounds of chemotherapy. The 

The treatment process has been extremely difficult. The chemotherapy drugs caused severe irritation to his gastrointestinal tract, leaving him completely unable to eat at one point; even water he drank would soon be vomited. During his first two chemotherapy sessions, he also experienced vomiting blood and blood in his urine. His body wasted away rapidly, with his weight plummeting by over 30 kilograms, making even walking difficult. Fortunately, after more than half a year of arduous treatment, his condition has temporarily stabilized.

Hoping to Defeat the Illness and Return to Campus Soon

During his illness, teachers and students from his university, as well as caring netizens from all sectors of society, extended their help through donations. His parents have already spent over 300,000 RMB on his treatment, yet they remain steadfast, stating, "As long as there is a glimmer of hope, we will never give up!" Filled with gratitude for the selfless help from his school and society, Zhang Rui expresses his hope to defeat the illness soon and return to campus to continue pursuing his dreams.Gastric cancer was once considered a disease primarily affecting middle-aged and older adults. However, intensive care physician Dr. Wong Hin pointed out on his personal Facebook page, citing the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019, that since 2015, there has been a small but significant increase in gastric cancer patients under 40. Another study indicated that up to 2019, the incidence of gastric cancer among adolescents and young adults in China had slightly increased by 0.3%, while the rate among women in the United States was rising by 0.4% annually. This shows an increasing number of cases in younger individuals.

Wong explains that many young gastric cancer patients do not have genetic predispositions, family history, or H. pylori infection. The major problem, he suggests, lies in the poor dietary patterns of modern young people, such as frequently eating takeout food, which is often high in oil, salt, and strong flavors, coupled with insufficient fruit and vegetable intake. Such eating habits can create three major crises for the gut microbiome, paving the way for gastric cancer:

1. Fewer Good Gut Bacteria, More Bad Bacteria: Research shows that microbial imbalance (dysbiosis) can induce chronic inflammation, generate cell-mutating substances, and regulate the immune environment, leading to gastric cancer. Consuming foods with emulsifiers can alter the composition and function of the gut mucosa-associated microbiota, leading to low-grade gastrointestinal inflammation and metabolic disorders.
   • Analogy: Good and bad bacteria in the gut are like "superheroes protecting the stomach" and "villains causing damage." Regularly eating high-oil, high-salt, high-sugar takeout with additives is like feeding and strengthening the "villains," while the "superhero" good bacteria become weaker. Over time, the stomach's defenses weaken, making it more susceptible to attack.
2. Reduced Diversity of Gut Microbiota: If the diversity and number of gut bacterial species are too low, the body lacks sufficient "troops" to deal with different problems. It becomes more vulnerable to pathogenic bacteria or viruses, resulting in lower immunity and metabolic function.
3. Production of More Toxins: Some components of takeout food can cause the gut microbiota to produce substances harmful to the body. These "toxins" can damage the stomach lining and even increase the risk of cellular mutations. These toxins don't cause immediate changes but accumulate slowly in the body over a long time. It may only be at a more severe stage that the body truly begins to feel unwell.

12 Common Signs of Gastric Cancer

What are the common symptoms of gastric cancer? The Hong Kong Hospital Authority points out that if you notice the following symptoms, they could be signs of gastric cancer, or they could indicate other common digestive issues like gastritis or duodenal ulcers. It's important to pay attention:

• Persistent indigestion
• Persistent loss of appetite
• Rapid weight loss
• Abdominal bloating or swelling
• Feeling of fullness or discomfort after eating
• Vomiting
• Vomiting blood
• Blood in the stool
• Black, tarry stools
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Weakness

The Hospital Authority notes that because early-stage gastric cancer symptoms are often subtle, many patients dismiss them as simple stomach discomfort. Consequently, over half of patients are already at a middle or advanced stage by the time they are diagnosed and treated. If you have suspicious symptoms, consult your family doctor promptly.

4 Things You Can Do to Prevent Gastric Cancer

To prevent gastric cancer, the Hospital Authority recommends the following daily practices, including eating more of two types of vegetables and foods rich in Vitamin C:

1. Eat Plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables:
   • Cruciferous vegetables (e.g., broccoli, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, kale) contain cancer-fighting substances that help break down carcinogens in the body.
   • Fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids (e.g., carrots, mangoes, papayas) help strengthen the body's resistance, directly reducing the chance of cancer.
   • Foods rich in Vitamin C (e.g., oranges, grapefruits, strawberries) have antioxidant functions that can reduce the risk of developing gastric cancer.
2. Reduce High-Salt Food Intake:
   • Pickled and smoked foods (e.g., Chinese sausage, salted eggs, sausages, ham, bacon, salted fish) can form carcinogenic compounds during processing.
   • Fried foods can produce free radicals during frying, which may reduce oxygen levels in body tissues and damage them.
3. Pay Attention to Personal Hygiene:
   • Wash hands frequently and avoid contact with feces or vomit to prevent Helicobacter pyloriinfection.
4. Get Regular Health Checkups:
   • If a close family member has had gastric cancer, it is recommended that individuals over 40 undergo regular annual gastroscopy examinations.