Man mistook rectal cancer for hemorrhoids, delayed treatment

A 53-year-old man in Taiwan initially dismissed his recurring diarrhea, gastrointestinal discomfort, and recent blood in his stool as symptoms of existing hemorrhoids. He delayed seeking medical care for about a month until his wife insisted on a health check.

During a painless AI colonoscopy, doctors discovered a 4.5 cm ulcerative tumor approximately 10 cm from his anus. Pathology confirmed it as malignant rectal cancer. The examination also revealed a 5-6 mm tubular adenoma, a polyp with a higher risk of cancerous transformation, which was removed during the procedure.

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Nicotine's half-life in the body is about 2 hours. After stopping smoking, it can be completely metabolized within about 48 hours, but the chronic damage caused by smoking, including vascular endothelial damage, DNA mutations, and long-term chronic inflammation, does not disappear immediately after quitting.

The patient admitted to a smoking habit of over 10 years, quitting four years prior. He had not undergone cancer screenings, believing his health would naturally improve after quitting. Dr. Liang Cheng-chao, director of Xingjian Dazhi Health Management Clinic, explained that while nicotine metabolizes quickly, the chronic damage from smoking, including endothelial damage, DNA mutations, and inflammation, persists long after quitting. He noted that the risk for some cancers can remain elevated for up to 15 years, underscoring that quitting smoking does not negate the need for regular health check-ups.

Dr. Liang stressed that early detection of colorectal cancer significantly improves treatment outcomes. He highlighted seven warning signs: persistent changes in bowel habits (over two weeks), blood or mucus in stool, pencil-thin stools, recurrent abdominal bloating or pain, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, unexplained weight loss, and persistent fatigue or anemia. He also advised individuals under 50 with risk factors like obesity, family history, smoking, heavy drinking, or a diet high in red and processed meats to discuss early colonoscopy screening with their doctor. Regular screenings, he concluded, are the most effective way to reduce the threat of colorectal cancer.

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If colorectal cancer can be detected early, the treatment effect and prognosis are usually better, but early stages often have no obvious symptoms, so regular screening is very important.