Michael Elwood
About Me
I’m a Marine. It started with an alarming change in my bathroom habits.
How This Started
For two days, I experienced frequent episodes of bright red blood in my stool — four to five times a day. There was no pain, and my energy levels and sleep patterns remained unchanged. It felt surreal because, other than the presence of blood, I felt completely normal.
What I Noticed
The bleeding stopped after a couple of days, and I already had a routine appointment scheduled with my primary care provider at the VA clinic in a few weeks, so I decided to wait until then to bring it up.
My Decisions Along the Way
Looking back, I realize I could have been more assertive, pushing for an earlier evaluation and insisting that my doctor advocate for a more urgent diagnostic appointment.
Why It Was Easy to Wait
The bleeding had stopped after a couple of days, there was no pain, and my energy and sleep were unaffected, so it felt reasonable to wait for my already-scheduled appointment rather than seek care sooner.
The Moment Things Changed
The moment I woke up from the colonoscopy procedure, there was no waiting for treatment. The surgeon didn’t need to wait for the pathology report to confirm what he had seen: it was cancer.
What Happened Next
When I finally saw my doctor, I described the incident and showed him photos I had taken to document the symptoms. He was concerned and recommended a colonoscopy to ensure everything was okay. Unfortunately, it took about four months to get the appointment.
What Would Have Helped Sooner
If I had realized that just one symptom, like blood in stool with no pain, could have been cancer, I would have pushed more aggressively for tests instead of waiting the four months for the colonoscopy appointment.
What I Learned and What I Want Others to Know
The very next day, I underwent MRI and CT scans, which revealed I had stage 3 rectal cancer. In the Marine Corps, there’s a cultural mindset to “suck it up, buttercup” and avoid seeking medical attention for minor issues. That mentality has its place, but it can also be risky — the challenge is discerning when a symptom is a minor inconvenience and when it requires serious medical attention. Understand your body and recognize your medical treatment threshold. If you’re unsure, confide in someone you trust and share what you’re experiencing. For me, that trusted person was my wife, a fellow Marine and nurse; despite sharing the Marine mentality, she insisted I bring my symptoms to my doctor’s attention, and I’m incredibly grateful I did.
Changes I Noticed
Blood in stool.
