Rectal cancer | Catherine O’Hara’s death raises public awareness
A British Columbia woman being treated for colorectal cancer hopes news that Canadian legend Catherine O’Hara was suffering from rectal cancer when she died will help more people become aware of how common the cancer is and encourage discussion about it.
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Mary De Vera is approaching the tenth anniversary of her stage 3 colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2016 and says she has seen patient advocacy organizations in Canada and the United States use Catherine O’Hara’s death as an opportunity to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer in Canada.
“It is a cancer that affects the lower part of the body, and when you have it, you feel shame, you are stigmatized and you are faced with a taboo. I remember when I got my diagnosis, I was 36, and I immediately thought, “Oh my God, of all the cancers, why did I have to get this one, which is, you know, embarrassing?” “, she says.
“So I think there is now an opening to talk about things that we don’t normally talk about,” she adds.
A death certificate issued Monday by Los Angeles County lists a pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the lungs, as the immediate cause of the actress’ death on Jan. 30 at the age of 71. Rectal cancer is mentioned as a long-term cause.
Is colorectal cancer common?
According to Colorectal Cancer Canada, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada, affecting approximately 25,200 Canadians in 2024.
The majority of cases occur in adults aged 50 or older, but the organization says that since the early 2000s, the incidence rate of colorectal cancer among young adults has been increasing in many countries, including Canada.
The federal government estimates that one in fourteen men and one in eighteen women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
BC Cancer suggests that screening can save lives by detecting non-cancerous polyps and cancer early. The organization claims that if colon cancer is detected at an early stage, the chances of survival are greater than 90%.
Detection and screening
According to Health Canada, 47% of cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed at an early stage, at stages 1 and 2.
The Canadian Cancer Society says that colorectal cancer may have no signs or symptoms in its early stages because the tumor is very small, but symptoms may appear when the tumor grows into surrounding tissues and organs.
The company says the signs and symptoms are similar to other health conditions but may include rectal bleeding, fatigue and weakness, weight loss, or breathing problems.
“Regardless of your age, consult a healthcare professional if you have any of the following symptoms: blood in the stool (bright red, very dark, black or tarry), abdominal pain (frequent gas, bloating, feeling full or cramping), changes in bowel habits or unexplained weight loss,” lists BC Cancer.
Health Canada recommends colorectal cancer screening for adults aged 50 to 74 at average risk.
The Dr Ted McAlister, a surgical oncologist at William Osler Health System, explains that a fecal immunochemical test is performed every two years to analyze stool for occult blood.
“If the result is positive, we do a colonoscopy to see if there is actually something there,” he explains.
“It is very easy to treat as long as it is detected at an early stage. Early colorectal cancer is generally treated with surgery and, in most cases, is cured,” emphasizes Dr.r McAlister.
“The more advanced the cancer, the more you will need other treatments, such as chemotherapy and, for rectal cancer, radiotherapy,” he adds.
Who is most at risk?
Risk factors
You may be at higher risk of developing colorectal cancer if you have:
- Signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer;
- Have ever had colorectal cancer or polyps;
- A family history of colorectal cancer in a parent, sibling or child;
- An inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis;
- A hereditary cancer syndrome such as Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis.
Mme De Vera is an epidemiologist and associate professor in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia.
Since completing his treatment, his research has focused on colorectal cancer and its epidemiology in young adults, as well as the long-term effects of cancer in young adults.
She recently led a study that found that young women diagnosed with colorectal cancer are at higher risk of sexual health complications, including early menopause, as well as pelvic infections, painful intercourse and endometriosis.
“I really want to get people talking about a subject that, again, no one really feels comfortable talking about,” she insists.
“But it is through talking that we can hopefully prevent illness and, for those suffering in isolation and loneliness, seeing other people share their experiences makes their journey a little less lonely,” she believes.
