Randy League’s Experience with Colon Cancer

Randy League has always enjoyed being active, which, as it turns out, is a good thing for reducing cancer risk. He played football and basketball in high school, continuing his love for sports into adulthood. “I enjoy playing golf and just being outdoors, walking my dogs,” the 46-year-old said. League works as a production manager at a commercial printing company in Columbus, Ohio, where he also manages maintenance for the building and several departments.

However, in January 2025, he woke up one night with a painful sensation similar to extreme constipation. The discomfort forced him to struggle in the bathroom, to the point that burst blood vessels appeared in his eyes.

The pain worsened, and he found it difficult to sit. “There were times when I couldn’t stay in my office for long,” he explained, preferring to walk around instead. He dreaded getting caught in traffic on his way to work, worrying about what might delay him further.

A few months later, at 45, he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, even though he had experienced no symptoms leading up to that night. “It’s hard to believe there was a tumor the size of a golf ball just hiding until that day,” he recalled. “It was really strange.”

Delays in Diagnosis

League had rarely been sick, which meant he didn’t have a primary care physician. This, combined with a lack of awareness, led him to skip screenings when he turned 45—the recommended age for colon cancer checks. Despite being proactive in scheduling an appointment, he faced a six-week wait.

During that time, he tried managing his symptoms, with his wife doing some research. They considered dietary issues or hemorrhoids as possible culprits. League even attempted using suppositories, but found them only worsened his discomfort.

When he finally saw a doctor, the painful examination led to a diagnostic colonoscopy. This too involved another wait of three to four weeks, even though he was supposed to be fast-tracked. On the day of the procedure, he was accompanied by his mother since his wife believed the issue might just be hemorrhoids.

In April 2025, he was diagnosed with invasive poorly differentiated carcinoma with hepatoid differentiation—a less common variant of colon cancer, as the cells bore resemblance to liver cancer cells. “I was shocked, scared, and at a loss for words,” he admitted. “It took a couple of days for me to calm down.”

Discovering a Genetic Predisposition

League began treatment with radiation and chemotherapy, hoping to shrink the tumor before considering surgery. At his first radiation appointment, he was offered genetic testing to determine any hereditary conditions linked to increased cancer risk. This is when he discovered he had Lynch syndrome, a genetic condition affecting about 1 in 300 Americans that increases cancer susceptibility.

This syndrome is known to raise the lifetime risk for colon cancer between 22% and 74%. Wanting his family to be aware, League has had his brother tested, who fortunately is negative. He hopes for his 16-year-old daughter to undergo testing in the coming years, particularly since Lynch syndrome can elevate her risks for endometrial, uterine, and ovarian cancers.

Positive Treatment Response

Throughout this process, League continued his radiation and oral chemotherapy for six weeks, which led to a reduction in tumor size and made it easier for him to sit. By June 2025, he discussed continuing treatment with both IV and oral chemotherapy with his oncologist.

Because he had Lynch syndrome along with a specific gene mutation, he became eligible for immunotherapy—an approach that trains the immune system to combat cancer rather than the more conventional chemotherapy that affects both healthy and cancerous cells. “I was so grateful,” he shared. “While chemotherapy could have been effective, it would have taken a much larger toll.”

Despite the challenges, League managed to keep working and only took off time for medical appointments. “I have a family to support and a mortgage,” he said. “As long as I could do it, I felt it was best to keep working.” His main struggles during treatment were extreme fatigue and difficulty sitting for long periods, making certain tasks unmanageable.

As of June 2026, League is cancer-free and will continue to undergo regular MRIs, CT scans, and annual colonoscopies. Given his Lynch syndrome diagnosis, he will also be screened for any other cancers he might be at risk for, like stomach cancer.

Reflecting on his experience, League emphasized the vital importance of having a primary care physician and getting regular colon cancer screenings. “I’m not sure anything would’ve been caught in time, but I believe different timelines could have significantly reduced the stress and anxiety I dealt with early on,” he noted.