Ask most people what they’d regret if their time were suddenly short, and they’ll point to a health habit: the check-ups they skipped, the cigarettes, the excess weight. Amanda Hedges had none of those regrets. At 31, she faced a diagnosis that changed everything, and what she wished she’d done differently had little to do with medicine. As a doctor, I think her answer deserves as much attention as any screening schedule.
Amanda’s Story
Amanda Hedges was 31, and by most standards she was doing health right. She went to regular check-ups, watched what she ate, and exercised. She had never spent a night in a hospital. Long lives ran in her family, so she figured she had plenty of time.
That’s why so many things stayed on the “someday” list. A beach weekend. A day at the zoo. Even a slow wander through the snack aisle at Costco. Work and daily tasks always came first.
Then she started getting headaches. They were mild, they came and went, and a Panadol took care of them. The first guess was a recent increase in her anxiety medication. Her psychiatrist wasn’t fully comfortable with that explanation and suggested an MRI, just to be safe.
At the appointment, staff told her they needed a second scan, this time with contrast. Amanda joked that they must have found a brain tumor. The radiographer confirmed it.
Her primary care doctor offered a bit of hope at first. The tumor had well-defined edges, which can point to a benign growth. A PET scan then showed high activity inside it, a sign of aggressive, malignant growth. The diagnosis was glioblastoma, a brain cancer known for how aggressively it behaves.
I want you to notice two things here. First, healthy habits lower your risk for many diseases, but they can’t guarantee you’ll avoid every one. Second, a mild headache is rarely anything serious, and Amanda’s wasn’t dramatic either. What made the difference was a doctor who thought a scan was worth ordering.
What Amanda Wishes She Had Done Differently
Once the shock settled, Amanda didn’t dwell on what she’d eaten or how often she’d exercised. Her biggest regret was that she had “forgotten to live.“
She looked back at her choices and saw a pattern. She took overtime instead of a weekend away. She stayed in on a quiet evening when a spontaneous outing was an option. Each choice made sense at the time. Together, they added up to a life spent mostly existing, with little room for things she enjoyed.
Her illness also changed how she saw her relationships. When she needed support, her family and friends were there. Her former bosses and colleagues were not. She had put years of effort into her career, and that experience reshaped what she considered important.
As a doctor, I see this as more than a personal lesson. Health isn’t only about lab results and screenings. Rest, enjoyment, and close relationships are part of it too. Amanda’s routine covered the physical side well. What got neglected was everything that makes someone want to be well in the first place.
Her message is practical. Responsibilities are real, and you can’t drop them. But you can ask yourself a simple question: what am I postponing that I would regret never doing? Then pick one thing and schedule it, the same way you’d schedule a check-up.
Treatment, Limited Energy, and a Bucket List
Glioblastoma calls for aggressive treatment, and Amanda began chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Her treatment was not meant to cure her. The goal was to extend her life and keep her as comfortable as possible.
That distinction matters. When a treatment aims to prolong life rather than end the disease, quality of life becomes a medical goal in its own right. How a patient feels day to day is part of the plan, not an afterthought.
The side effects hit hard. Amanda dealt with nausea, breathlessness, and heavy fatigue. After sessions, she often couldn’t manage small activities she used to take for granted. She also had to live with the knowledge that her time was limited.
Her priorities became clearer. She started planning around the days she felt well enough to enjoy something, and she wrote a bucket list with big and small items on it:
- A stay at a beachside hotel, where she could hear the waves and feel the sand underfoot. In her words, it would help her “forget that I am dying.”
- A return to Australia Zoo, where she had childhood memories, and a chance to see Robert Irwin perform, as she had watched his father perform when she was a girl.
- An all-you-can-eat buffet, with no thought about what comes next.
Nothing on that list is extravagant. It’s the kind of thing she once put off for later.
Treatment and travel cost money, so Amanda started a GoFundMe page. Her family and friends supported her emotionally and joined her on these outings during her better days. Her parents were more than caregivers. They were companions who helped her through decisions about her care.
Colon Cancer at 26
Amanda’s story shows what happens when a symptom is mild and easy to dismiss. Mrinali Dhembla’s shows what happens when symptoms are persistent and still don’t point to cancer in anyone’s mind.
Mrinali was 26. For months, she had back pain that wouldn’t let up, along with constant fatigue. Both are common complaints, and neither says “cancer” to most people. She was eventually diagnosed with colon cancer. Her first reaction was that the doctor had to be wrong. She was only 26.
Her disbelief is understandable, and it reflects a real shift in who gets this disease. Colon cancer rates are rising in people under 50, which doctors classify as early-onset. Many people still think of it as a condition for older adults, and that assumption can delay a visit to the doctor. It can also delay a doctor’s suspicion.
Her case also shows how colon cancer can hide. It often doesn’t cause the symptoms people associate with cancer, like a lump or a lingering cough. Her cancer was stage 3, and the report says it had also spread to her spine. That is the reason regular screening matters. It can find the disease before symptoms show up.
Mrinali’s regret was simple. She wishes she had seen a doctor sooner, back when she felt sick every day.
My Personal RX on Listening to Your Body and Living Fully
Amanda and Mrinali learned the same lesson the hard way: pay attention sooner. Your body sends signals, and so does your life when something important is missing. Here are my personal tips for acting on both before regret sets in.
- Take Persistent Symptoms Seriously: Back pain, fatigue, or headaches that last for weeks deserve a doctor’s visit, even if they seem minor.
- Know Your Family History: Ask relatives about cancer and share the answers with your doctor. It can change when you start screening.
- Keep Up With Screenings: Ask your doctor which screenings you need and when, including colon cancer screening.
- Ask for a Second Look: If symptoms continue after you’ve been reassured, request further testing or a second opinion.
- Fill Common Nutrient Gaps: My Core Four Bundle combines Omega-3 Fish Oil, Ultra Cal-Mag, Vitamin D3 + K2, and MindBiotic to support your energy, digestion, and stress response.
- Protect Your Sleep: Poor sleep wears you down fast. Sleep Max, with magnesium, GABA, 5-HTP, and taurine, helps calm your mind and supports restorative sleep.
- Learn the Gut-Brain Link: My book Heal Your Gut, Save Your Brain explains how digestion connects to mood and thinking, so you can make food choices that support both.
- Schedule One Joy a Week: Book a beach day, a zoo trip, or a long lunch with friends the same way you’d book a check-up.
- Invest in People: Call a friend or family member every week. They are the ones who show up when it counts.
- Move and Breathe Daily: A 10-minute walk with slow, deep breathing lowers stress and is easy to keep up.
