Ohio Man's Eye Bleed Reveals Rare Stage 3 Colon Cancer

Randy League, a 46-year-old production manager in Ohio, built his identity on physical fitness and a history of avoiding medical appointments. He routinely logged over 15,000 steps daily on the factory floor. In mid-January, however, his routine changed abruptly. He began suffering from severe difficulty using the restroom.

"I had always been pretty regular before," League told the Daily Mail. "But that night, I was struggling to go to the bathroom. It was real pain - harder, more intense than I'd ever had to strain before. I felt something like a tingle in my eye."

That night, his wife noticed a startling change: his eyes appeared bloodshot, resembling black eyes from a severe altercation. League initially blamed the strain from his bathroom struggle for bursting blood vessels in his eyes. He did not anticipate that this observation would lead to a diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer just two months later.

The specific diagnosis was hepatoid adenocarcinoma, a highly aggressive form of colorectal cancer that typically kills patients within 12 months. Because League was diagnosed before age 50, his case falls into the category of early-onset cancer. Recent data from the American Cancer Society highlights a sharp rise in this demographic; for men, the diagnosis rate jumped from 10 per 100,000 in 1998 to 16 per 100,000 today. For women, the rate increased from eight to 14 cases per 100,000.

League initially dismissed his bowel issues as hemorrhoids. While he correctly noted that straining can cause hemorrhoids, his research indicated that hemorrhoids do not cause the severe straining itself. As his condition worsened, the pain became so intense that sitting down was difficult, and his 20-minute commute to work turned into a nightmare where he had to stop at every speed bump.

Complicating his path to care, League lacked a primary care physician despite his healthy history. This gap in his medical access delayed his specialist appointment for six weeks. During the eventual exam, a physician detected a mass in his rectum. The procedure was so painful that League screamed in agony.

A subsequent colonoscopy revealed a golf ball-sized tumor that had already invaded surrounding tissues. Doctors confirmed the presence of stage 3 colorectal cancer, specifically the rare and deadly hepatoid adenocarcinoma.

This aggressive malignancy originates outside the liver yet mimics liver cells in appearance. Its exact cause remains unknown, leading doctors to officially classify League's condition as colorectal cancer. The tumor was located in the rectum, a position that influenced the initial diagnosis. Such cases are exceptionally rare, with fewer than one reported per 10 million people between 2000 and 2016. Most occurrences appear in the lungs or within the digestive and reproductive tracts. Medical experts estimate that only 35 percent of patients survive one year after diagnosis. For League, however, the prognosis was more favorable because the disease had not spread beyond the colon. This containment allowed for potential surgical removal if necessary to address the growth. League recalled no prior symptoms until the night he ruptured blood vessels in his eyes. Doctors suspect the tumor had been growing undetected for several months before that event. Following diagnosis, he was referred to physicians at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. There, specialists explained there was a fifty-fifty chance he would require surgical intervention. They warned that such surgery could damage the rectum, potentially causing lifelong bathroom difficulties. League underwent eight weeks of radiation therapy followed by immunotherapy treatment. Radiation began in late April, administered once every weekday for the full duration. The tumor responded exceptionally well, with a June colonoscopy showing it had virtually disappeared. Only some residual cancer remained in the rectum at that time. Doctors indicated chemotherapy would likely be needed, but this often causes brutal side effects. These side effects include hair loss, extreme exhaustion, and severe nausea. His genetic test results, however, meant he could avoid chemotherapy entirely. The tests revealed Lynch syndrome, a mutation affecting about one in 300 people. This condition raises colorectal cancer risk by 60 to 80 percent for men and 40 to 60 percent for women. The syndrome causes mutations to accumulate rapidly in cancer cells, creating abnormal proteins. This process increases the likelihood that the immune system will detect and destroy them. Consequently, he could utilize immunotherapy, which uses the body's own defenses to eliminate cancer. This approach carries significantly fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy methods. Dr. Ning Jin, League's oncologist, told the Daily Mail that genetic testing is critical for these patients. In August, League started receiving two to three infusions every three weeks. By October, the frequency was reduced to one infusion every six weeks. The main side effect he suffered was fatigue, yet he continued working throughout treatment. In November, a colonoscopy showed no signs of a tumor, but an MRI found residual cells. Doctors remain hopeful for his future recovery and continued progress. He is pictured ringing a bell after completing the radiation portion of his treatment. Staff members presented him with a congratulatory letter acknowledging his achievement. Medical teams decided to keep him on immunotherapy while taking a wait-and-see approach. In January 2026, League experienced more rectal pain, leading to the removal of a pea-sized polyp. He has one more immunotherapy session scheduled for June. He will then undergo another colonoscopy and MRI to check for any remaining cancer. Doctors are optimistic about his outcome and note he has made excellent progress. He expressed confidence in their plan, stating they will likely be okay. His advice to others is to ensure you have a primary care doctor, even if you feel healthy. He noted that anything can happen at any time without warning. Not having the comfort of immediate access to medical help was one of his toughest challenges.