VICTORIA — When 42-year-old Justin Wright was diagnosed with stage two colorectal cancer, the first person he thought about was his 4-year-old daughter, Londyn. For his one and only daughter to grow up with her father, Wright knew he’d have to fight.
“She’s one of the main reasons why I beat it,” Wright said.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting the signs, symptoms and solutions to the nation’s second leading cause of death. The American Cancer Society projects that more than 107,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and nearly 50,000 will be diagnosed with rectal cancer in 2025. Nearly 53,000 Americans could die from colorectal cancer this year.
The incidence of colorectal cancer in young people is on the rise as well. Experts now recommend colonoscopies and screenings for people with average risk at age 45, though some people might need to get one earlier.
After the initial shock and emotions that came along with his diagnosis, Wright knew he wasn’t going to let cancer put his life on hold. Wright went on vacations to Las Vegas and Florida, enjoyed a cruise and spent time with his wife, Meagan, and daughter at Disney World.
“Life never changed for me,” Wright said. “It didn’t change who I am.”
In 2023, Wright knew something was wrong when he struggled to go to the bathroom. Initially, he thought he had hemorrhoids caused by heavy weight lifting. “Going to the bathroom should be the easiest thing in your life,” Wright said.
But after mentioning his issue to his doctor, Wright was referred to a gastroenterologist, Dr. Richard Rodger, who later confirmed Wright’s suspicion that something was wrong.
“It can be embarrassing talking about, but you can’t ignore these little things. It might be more. Let your doctor know so they can see if it’s something more,” Wright said. “Go to a doctor, not doctor Google.”
Wright had a colonoscopy, which revealed a 4-to-5-centimeter mass seven centimeters deep in his rectum. After several tests and screenings, he was diagnosed with stage two cancer, and it progressed to early stage three.
During 28 rounds of radiation and chemotherapy, Wright wanted to look forward to the future and all the adventures he’d have with his daughter.
“Cancer doesn’t have to be the end-all, be-all,” Wright said. “You have to be positive you’ll beat it. A positive outlook and mentality can help you beat cancer beyond the chemo and radiation treatments.”
Wright’s goal was to return to his normal life: spending five to six days per week at the gym, working and planning trips with his family.
“I kept working. I kept my life as normal as possible. I ate the same, and I did the same things,” Wright said. “I wasn’t going to stop being me.”
It wasn’t long before Wright was back at the gym, drinking his protein shakes and living a normal life. Coupled with an early diagnosis and quick treatment, Wright was in great health, which helped him beat cancer, and it also helped him recover even faster from surgery.
“Know your body, and know that it is never too early to get a colonoscopy,” Wright said. “I think you should be getting colonoscopies in your 20s and 30s because most men don’t get checked until it’s too late and its stage four cancer.”
Men generally have a higher risk of colorectal cancer than women, but the likelihood of getting colorectal cancer varies depending on a person’s risk factors. Some of the top risk factors include: being overweight or obese, having type two diabetes, having a diet high in red meat consumption, smoking, using alcohol, having gastrointestinal issues and having a history of colorectal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
“It’s gonna change your life, but you don’t want it to end your life,” Wright said. “Let it be a stepping stone in your life.”
His advice to other men is to speak up when they know something’s not right with their bodies. Some of the common symptoms of colorectal cancer include: a change in bowel habits, feeling the need to have a bowel movement but not having one, rectal bleeding with bright red blood, blood in the stool, cramping or abdominal pain, weakness and fatigue and unintended weight loss, according to the cancer society.
“Never be embarrassed to discuss things with your doctor,” Wright said.
