Paul Weigel

By SCCA staff · January 1, 2014

Paul Weigel was treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer at age 43.

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body.

Paul Weigel

Colorectal Cancer Survivor

A triathlete, received hip replacement surgery and colorectal cancer diagnosis at age 43
Seen by SCCA’s expert team at the Colorectal Cancer Specialty Clinic
Treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery
Advocate for colonoscopy screening and exercise

Paul Weigel spent most of his 20s leading a sedentary life. He was a workaholic, too, until he caught the exercise bug when he and a buddy made a $5 bet on which of them would win a 5K race. (Paul beat his friend and has left him in the dust ever since.)

That event changed his life. “I found that I really liked being active and started running more and more. The next thing I knew, I was running marathons, climbing mountains, and participating in triathlons. I was even leading hikes with my friends on a weekly basis.”

All those activities were great for Paul’s heart and waistline but were hard on his hips. Eventually he had one hip and then the other replaced. The hip-replacement process involves getting a full physical to make sure your body can withstand surgery. During the physical for his second hip replacement, at 43, Paul reminded his doctor about blood in his stools. He’d told the doctor this before in other physicals, but the doctor had told him not to worry about it—Paul was young and healthy.

After his surgery, Paul began to experience real trouble. Not with his hip, but with his gastrointestinal (GI) system. “I had to give myself an enema shortly after going home from the hospital,” Paul said. “It seemed that the anesthesia had really slowed my system down to where nothing was moving. I was in a tremendous amount of pain.”

Paul decided to see a GI specialist, who said his blood work was fine. It was during the colonoscopy—“the best nap of my life,” Paul said—that the doctor discovered major trouble. The exam had to be stopped midway because a tumor was blocking the path of the scope.

Appointment with the “Army” for Colorectal Cancer

Paul wasn’t quite six weeks post hip surgery when his gastroenterologist referred him to a local oncologist with a diagnosis of colorectal cancer.

“I went to the appointment, but it felt like I was meeting with a scout troop,” Paul said of the doctor and colleagues he saw near his home. “If I was going to win this battle, I needed an army behind me. That’s when we decided to go to Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA).”

Paul met with his SCCA colorectal cancer care team as part of the Colorectal Cancer Specialty Clinic: He saw UW Medicine surgical oncologist Gary N. Mann, MD, BCh, medical oncologist Gabriela Chiorean, MD, and radiation oncologist Edward Kim, MD.

“We believe that colorectal cancers are best managed with a team approach that incorporates the expertise of all of these specialties,” Dr. Kim said.

“I felt like they had the breadth and depth of experience that I needed to win this war,” Paul said. “They were a whole team under one roof with the most current and up-to-date tools, expert specialty doctors, and an outstanding, comprehensive organization down to the front desk. I knew I’d be taken care of.”

Colorectal Cancer Treatment Begins Immediately

Treatment started immediately, beginning with 28 days of radiation and oral chemotherapy. “Radiation and chemotherapy were used before surgery to try to shrink his tumor, which was located between the juncture of his rectum and colon, and also to sterilize any tumor cells that could have contaminated adjacent tissue beyond the rectum to reduce the risk of recurrence after surgery,” Dr. Kim said.

“Cancer was never going to beat me,” Paul said.

Six weeks after radiation was complete, Paul had surgery. Eighteen inches of his colon, the tumor, and as many as 20 lymph nodes were removed in that operation. Five of the lymph nodes contained cancer cells. Paul spent two days at University of Washington Medical Center and walked every day after that. He took seven weeks off of work to recover.

Anesthesia Drugs or other substances that cause a loss of feeling or awareness. This keeps patients from feeling pain during surgery or other procedures. A loss of feeling or awareness caused by drugs or other substances. Anesthesia keeps patients from feeling pain during surgery or other procedures. Local anesthesia is a loss of feeling in one small area of the body, such as the mouth. Regional anesthesia is a loss of feeling in a part of the body, such as an arm or leg. General anesthesia is a loss of feeling and a complete loss of awareness that feels like a very deep sleep. Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Colonoscopy An examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, which is inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. An examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, which is inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. Gastroenterologist Gastroenterologists are trained to diagnose and treat diseases of the gastrointestinal system, including cancers of the liver, pancreas, esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum and anus. Gastrointestinal Refers to the stomach and intestines. Also called GI. Oncologist A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment, such as treating cancer with radiation. A physician who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer. Some oncologists specialize in a particular type of cancer treatment. For example, a radiation oncologist specializes in treating cancer with radiation. Radiation therapy The use of high-energy radiation from X-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. The use of high-energy radiation from x-rays, gamma rays, neutrons, protons and other sources to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation may come from a machine outside the body (external-beam radiation therapy), or it may come from radioactive material placed in the body near cancer cells (internal radiation therapy or brachytherapy). Systemic radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance, such as a radiolabeled monoclonal antibody, that travels in the blood to tissues throughout the body. Recurrence Cancer that has come back, usually after a period during which it could not be detected. It may come back to the same place as the original (primary) tumor or someplace else. Also called recurrent cancer. Screening Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Because screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease Checking for disease when there are no symptoms. Because screening may find diseases at an early stage, there may be a better chance of curing the disease. Examples of cancer screening tests are the mammogram (for breast cancer), colonoscopy (for colon cancer) and Pap and HPV tests (for cervical cancer). Screening can also include a genetic test to check for a person’s risk of developing an inherited disease.

Paul Weigel

Recovering with Routine

“I did everything I could to be ‘normal’ again after surgery,” Paul said. Anxious to get back to his routine, he gutted out a triathlon at seven weeks. “It was an amazingly cathartic experience, even doing it after just starting chemotherapy. What mattered to me was that I was a fighter and a survivor!”

Paul went back to work, all the while receiving chemotherapy treatment at SCCA and with a portable chemotherapy pump device. “I tried to keep a normal life for my daughter, Natalie,” he said. He and his wife, Laurel, traded off on family duties, sharing the load for drop-offs and pick-ups at school, and for bath and bed times. “By keeping to the routine, I felt like I was putting cancer at bay.

In retrospect, Paul felt better while receiving chemotherapy than he had before he was diagnosed. “In the year before I found out I had cancer, I took a nap every chance I had when my daughter would sleep, and I always made a point to have a bathroom nearby because of my unpredictable GI system.”

Now, despite neuropathy in his feet (he’s lost some feeling) and in his hands (he’s had to change his signature), Paul is on a regular diet and back to his regular life. Though he is “petrified” that he is going to eventually die of cancer, he’s back to training and looking forward to the next race, including an Ironman in Canada just six months after finishing his chemotherapy in summer 2014.

“I want people to know that there is life after being diagnosed with cancer—a wonderful one. I want to make a difference for people and made an effort to be very public about my diagnosis. As a result, friends have gotten colonoscopies. At my age, if I had been more direct with my primary care physician about my symptoms and had a colonoscopy earlier, it’s likely they could have removed polyps earlier [possibly before the polyps became cancerous]. My last year could have been very different.”

Chemotherapy Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It may be given alone or with other treatments. Treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Chemotherapy may be given by mouth, injection, infusion or on the skin, depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. It may be given alone or with other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy or biologic therapy. Colonoscopy An examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, which is inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. An examination of the inside of the colon using a colonoscope, which is inserted into the rectum. A colonoscope is a thin, tube-like instrument with a light and a lens for viewing. It may also have a tool to remove tissue to be checked under a microscope for signs of disease. Neuropathy A numbness, tingling or pain from nerve damage caused by a tumor or by treatment. Symptom A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. A physical or mental problem that a person experiences that may indicate a disease or condition. Symptoms cannot be seen and do not show up on medical tests. Some examples of symptoms are headache, fatigue, nausea and pain.

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Dr. Gabriela Chiorean

Dr. Edward Kim

colorectal cancer

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