Woman loses 10kg in 3 months; thought she successfully slimmed down but was diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

Dajia Lee’s General Hospital issued a press release today featuring Dr. Lai Ta-feng, an attending physician in the Department of Gastroenterology. Dr. Lai shared the case of a woman in her 60s who lost 10 kilograms over three months. Initially believing her weight loss efforts had finally succeeded, she later developed abdominal bloating and persistent diarrhea, with stools that were almost never formed. Upon seeking medical attention and undergoing a colonoscopy, a tumor was discovered 50 centimeters from the anal opening. The tumor was obstructing the intestinal tract, causing the stool to pass only as liquid, mimicking diarrhea. Dr. Lai noted that the Health Promotion Administration offers a free "Quantitative Immunochemical Fecal Occult Blood Test" (FIT) every two years for colorectal cancer screening. He observed that patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer every month, particularly those over the age of 60. Because seniors are often more stoic regarding pain and may lack the habit of regular check-ups, they frequently wait until they feel significant discomfort to seek help, often missing the "golden window" for treatment. Dr. Lai pointed out that high-risk groups for colorectal cancer include those who favor grilled meats and high-fat foods while consuming few fruits and vegetables, as well as those with a family history of the disease. Early symptoms of colorectal cancer are often subtle; many people mistake abdominal pain or changes in bowel habits for temporary discomfort or food poisoning, unaware that these are warning signs of the disease. According to Dr. Lai, colorectal cancer ranks second in new cases among the country’s top ten cancers, following only lung cancer. If detected early at Stage 0 or 1, the five-year survival rate exceeds 90%. However, because early stages are often asymptomatic, he strongly recommends regular screening. If any of the following symptoms persist for more than two weeks, one should seek medical attention immediately: Changes in bowel habits, Bloody or mucoid stools, Bright or dark red blood in the stool, Narrowing of the stool shape, A sensation of incomplete evacuation, Unexplained abdominal pain or bloating, Unexplained weight loss (Editor: Li Hsi-chang) April 10, 2026