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4. The Feeling of Incomplete Evacuation
Known medically as tenesmus, this is the sensation that you need to have a bowel movement even after you have just had one. This occurs when a tumor in the rectum mimics the presence of stool, triggering the body’s urge to expel it.
Cancer cells consume a disproportionate amount of the body’s energy supply. Furthermore, the immune system’s attempt to fight the cancer can lead to a metabolic shift that causes weight to drop even when caloric intake remains the same.
6. Fatigue and Weakness
This isn’t the standard tiredness of a long work week. It is a profound, bone-deep exhaustion often caused by iron-deficiency anemia. As a tumor bleeds internally—often in amounts too small to be seen by the naked eye—the body loses red blood cells, leading to a shortage of oxygen in the tissues.
The Power of Prevention: Screening and Trends
The narrative of colorectal cancer has changed drastically in the last five years. Because of the rise in “early-onset” cases like Van Der Beek’s, the recommended age for initial screenings was lowered from 50 to 45 in many regions, including the United States.
The tragedy of the disease is that it is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. If a colonoscopy identifies a polyp, the physician can often remove it during the same procedure, effectively stopping the cancer before it ever starts. For those diagnosed at Stage 1, the five-year survival rate is approximately 91%. However, once the cancer reaches Stage 4 and spreads to distant organs like the liver or lungs, that rate drops significantly.
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