Metastatic Rectal Cancer in a 52-Year-Old Woman: Advocating for Proactive Screening

TL;DR

A 52-year-old woman with metastatic rectal cancer presented with an asthma exacerbation, highlighting the importance of early screening for colorectal cancer in younger patients.

Contribution

Highlights an atypical presentation of metastatic rectal cancer and advocates for proactive screening in younger patients.

Findings

Metastatic rectal cancer presented as an acute asthma exacerbation in a 52-year-old woman.

Robotic laparoscopic surgery was used to resect the rectal mass.

The case emphasizes the need for timely screening to detect early-onset colorectal cancer.

Abstract

We present a case of metastatic rectal cancer in a 52-year-old woman, initially manifested as an acute asthma exacerbation. The patient was referred to the colorectal surgery team due to the discovery of a rectal mass after she sought treatment for shortness of breath following Clorox (cleaning product) exposure. Imaging revealed a right upper lobe nodule alongside a significant rectal mass, leading to a diagnosis of stage 4 colorectal cancer via colonoscopy and flexible sigmoidoscopy. The rectal mass was subsequently resected through robotic laparoscopic low anterior resection with coloproctostomy. This case underscores the need for clinicians to consider atypical presentations of colorectal cancer, such as asthma exacerbation, particularly in the context of the rising incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer (eoCRC). The survival rates for localized colorectal cancer are markedly higher than for metastatic cases, amplifying the need for timely and completed colorectal cancer screening. This report emphasizes the importance of increased awareness, timely diagnosis, and personalized screening strategies to improve outcomes in younger patients with colorectal cancer.

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