Some people avoid tobacco, gave up alcohol long ago, exercise every single day, steer clear of spicy and salty food, and eat modestly — and still receive a cancer diagnosis. When this happens, the first emotion is often not sadness but anger and a sense of injustice. The question, 'I followed all the rules, so why did this happen to me?', is a completely natural reaction and is in no way a sign of weakness.
Most of us live with the belief that effort is rewarded with results. The more faithfully someone has cared for their body, the stronger that belief tends to be — so a diagnosis can feel like a promise has been betrayed. This sense of betrayal and anger is well recognized as one stage in the process of coming to terms with loss (an adjustment reaction). Feeling angry is not avoidance; it is often a sign that the mind is facing reality and working hard to process it.
Medically speaking, a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of cancer — it does not reduce it to zero. Cancer develops as many changes accumulate inside cells over a long time, and much of that process involves factors no one can control, such as age itself and random genetic changes. Many cancers, including colorectal cancer, can arise without any clear cause or family history. Coming from a long-lived family, where parents and grandparents reached old age, does not make a person immune to a particular cancer.
For that reason, there is no need to conclude that 'all my effort was pointless.' The fitness and habits you built up steadily really do help you tolerate and recover from treatments such as surgery and chemotherapy, and can reduce complications. Your past efforts were not wasted; they become a solid foundation for the road ahead.
It is healthier to let anger and injustice out safely than to bottle them up. Talking to someone you trust, writing your feelings down, or sharing with others who have been through the same experience can all help. Many people, after riding out this wave of emotion, gradually shift toward a mindset of 'since this is where I am, let me live even better.' But there is no need to rush that shift or force a cheerful face. When you feel angry, it is okay to be angry.
If anger, low mood, or sleepless nights continue for more than a few weeks and begin to interfere with daily life, eating, or your treatment schedule, this may be a sign that your mind is asking for help. In that case it is wise to reach out to your care team, a mental health professional, or a psycho-oncology counseling service. Caring for your emotions is a genuine part of treatment.
This article is for general information only and does not replace individual diagnosis or medical care. Please always discuss any physical or emotional symptoms with your own healthcare team.