California father Mark Sevillano Jr., 41, believed 2024 would be the year he made self-care his top priority. Life was finally settling down after a grueling divorce, going back to school, and raising two kids by herself. He felt stronger and more in control after finishing his degree and recommitting to his goals of physical fitness, a balanced diet, and mental well-being.

But as he settled into this new way of life, a strange symptom appeared. Mark initially experienced mild swallowing difficulties that were easily written off as irritation or acid reflux. He didn’t give it much thought because a sip of water seemed to help. However, the discomfort increased over the course of the following two months, making every meal a cause for concern.

Mark’s worries were minimized when he saw a doctor. He didn’t fit the usual profile for anything serious because he was young, in good physical condition, and otherwise fit. Although not urgent, a swallowing test was planned. Even with the assurances, he had a gut feeling that he shouldn’t wait.

His life might have been saved by that instinct. Mark went to the emergency room after the pain worsened a few days later. Doctors discovered a mass there. It was a startling diagnosis: esophageal cancer. He had blamed his recent weight loss on clean living, but it was actually a sign of the illness.

Mark had life-saving surgery in October. A strawberry-sized tumor and a 15-centimeter segment of his esophagus were removed by surgeons, who then rebuilt the area using some of his intestine. Multiple rounds of chemotherapy followed the challenging procedure.

Mark’s perspective on life has drastically changed since going into remission. He exhorts people to believe in their instincts and bodies. Health problems can arise at any time, regardless of age or lifestyle. Never assume minor symptoms are innocuous; instead, pay attention to the warning signs and ask questions.