A 47-year-old athlete has shared the one symptom that led to his stage 3 rectal cancer diagnosis.
Just months after completing a grueling half Ironman in May 2023 - consisting of a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run - Marcus Wendling faced an even greater test of endurance: stage 3 rectal cancer.
“I eat a healthy diet. I exercise six days a week. I always have been on top of my health,” Wendling told The New York Post. “So up until that time, you feel like you have this sense of invincibility... I’ve never had a medical issue or a diagnosis.”
Wendling, an Ironman triathlete from Dayton, Ohio, revealed that he'd had just one sign leading up to the diagnosis - blood in his stool.
His wake-up call came during a routine physical, where his blood work looked fine, but he mentioned spotting occasional blood in his stool. That prompted his first colonoscopy in November 2023.
“They found a benign polyp in my colon and a large polyp in the lower rectum that tested positive for cancer,” he recalled, per Ohio State University. “Following an MRI, CT scan, and bloodwork, all studies suggested that the cancerous tumor remaining was a stage I issue.”
But the tumor’s location required a complex lower anterior resection - a major surgery involving the removal of the cancerous section of the rectum.
Initially set to have surgery locally, Wendling opted for a second opinion and ended up at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital, known as The James.
Colorectal surgeon Dr. Matthew Kalady conducted a flexible sigmoidoscopy and confirmed that surgery was necessary.
“Even though he was already scheduled two to three months out, he told me he’d fit my surgery into the schedule,” Wendling said. “I wanted to go to the best around.”
Less than two weeks later, Wendling underwent a five-to-six-hour procedure. Three of the 12 lymph nodes removed tested positive for cancer, officially elevating his diagnosis to stage 3.
The athlete's recovery wasn’t easy. He spiked a fever due to a leak at the surgical site, which delayed his discharge by a week and required drains to resolve over the next month.
“Marcus had a few bumps on the road to recovery, as can happen with treatments, but overall he did great,” said Dr. Kalady. “He is physically fit and has a great attitude, which definitely helps.”
Wendling then faced 12 weeks of chemotherapy under oncologist Dr. Pannaga G Malalur. He was fortunate to experience only mild side effects such as fatigue and neuropathy.
“I was determined to exercise almost every day and walk as much as possible. The only viable option was to just power through the treatment,” he said.
Throughout his journey, Wendling praised his care team for their honesty and support. “The nurses and physician assistants were so helpful at every step, from the hospitalizations to every follow-up appointment,” he said. “My entire care team always presented me with a realistic picture of how I would feel, potential symptoms, how my body would adjust - so I was always prepared.”
In September 2024, Wendling had his ileostomy reversed. “It’s not like turning a faucet back on, but Dr. Kalady and his entire staff kept telling me, ‘Your body will adjust’ – and it did,” he said.
Now in remission, Wendling is back to training for another half Ironman, this time, to close the chapter on the most difficult year of his life. He’ll return to the start line in Florida next month.
“The No. 1 goal is to finish,” he said. “The No. 2 goal is to beat my time from 2023 - that’s sort of closing the book on last year.”
Dr. Kalady credits Wendling’s proactive attitude with saving his life: “Marcus was smart in taking ownership of his health and getting his symptoms evaluated early. The key to curing colorectal cancer is detecting it and treating it early, before it spreads. His decision to get a colonoscopy early likely saved his life.”
The athlete now undergoes quarterly scans and annual colonoscopies. He urges others not to ignore even small signs.
“Try to stay on top of your overall health because you never know when you’re going to face something like this,” he said. “I’m healthy again. It’s full steam ahead.”