"He almost died because the doctors refused to take him seriously."

I’m an award-winning writer and editor living in New York City, where I currently work at BuzzFeed as the Senior Lifestyle Editor.

"A family friend who was staying with us short term was at home by herself, making a pumpkin pie. She suddenly felt ill, and I believe she was feeling short of breath. She went to lie down, for how long I can't remember (but it was after she finished making the pie, because I remember seeing the completed pie). After she got up, she still felt terrible and called 911. She had a Transient Ischemic Attack and was damn lucky it didn't progress to anything more. (You're not supposed to lie down when something like this happens, I guess). The doctors stressed how lucky she was and that it could have been so much worse.

This was over ten years ago. She just turned 82 a couple of days ago and is the sweetest lady."

Unusual Fatigue or Sleep Disturbance: Extreme, unexpected fatigue that may last for days or weeks before an event is a frequently reported, often missed, early warning sign.

Shortness of Breath:  This may occur with or without chest discomfort, often appearing during daily, normal activities .

Pain in Upper Body: Pain, pressure, or discomfort in the neck, jaw, shoulders, upper back, or one/both arms.

Stomach Distress: Indigestion, nausea, or vomiting that can be mistaken for the flu or food poisoning.

Cold Sweats and Dizziness: Suddenly breaking into a cold sweat, often accompanied by lightheadedness, dizziness, or a sense of "doom".

Chest Discomfort: While not always sharp, this can feel like pressure, tightness, or squeezing in the center of the chest."

"This is important information. My wife got to the ER much later than she should have because she only had upper back pains, which coincided with doing heavy lifting the day before. So she took a hot bath, thinking a good soak is usually good for what ails you."

"I don’t get it. Are you saying that anemia can cause colon cancer?"

"NO. It doesn't CAUSE. But iron-deficiency anemia is a symptom of colon cancer that many MDs overlook. When you get bloodwork done, get the lab report and read it. Look for IDA. Many girls are told its ok because they were menstruating just before their blood test. Bullshit. More than three oncologists have told me that if one presents with iron-deficient anemia, consider colon cancer until it is ruled out. There can be other causes of IDA, but if the cause is colon cancer, especially if you are <50 years, you have to get on it before it's too late."