Paul Weigel: Defying an advanced-stage diagnosis

Eleven years ago, at age 43, Paul Weigel was an avid marathon runner and triathlete who seemed the picture of health. Yet behind the impressive race times and athletic endurance lay a series of symptoms that went unaddressed for far too long. 

“I had blood in my stool, GI issues, and fatigue,” he said. “But I was in my 30s and 40s, and doctors brushed it off as hemorrhoids, training injuries, or stress. I didn’t fit the typical mold for colorectal cancer.”

By the time doctors discovered a tumor at the junction of Paul’s rectum and colon, it was nearly 100 percent blocking his intestines. He was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer. The shock was staggering. 

“Right before the colonoscopy, based on bloodwork, my medical team told me, ‘You don’t have cancer,’” Paul said. “But then I woke up, and my life changed dramatically.”

Paul began oral chemotherapy and radiation immediately. Lingering spots on his liver and lungs brought worry for nearly a decade. 

“I always felt like it could come back,” he says. “When a fellow athlete diagnosed with stage IV had a recurrence, he was dead in four months — there was a lot of fear.”

Still, Paul refused to let cancer define him. Driven by his newborn daughter — who he worried might grow up with no memories of him — Paul challenged himself to complete an Ironman triathlon. 

“I swam, biked, and ran with my chemo drugs in a backpack,” Paul said. “I wanted my daughter to have a lasting memory of me finishing an Ironman, knowing her dad was not a quitter.”

Today, Paul is cancer-free. As his daughter grew older, she began asking questions about his battle for survival. In response, he compiled his notes into a book, “Iron Dad: A Cancer Survivor’s Story of Discovering Strength, Life, and Love Through Fatherhood” (a portion of sales proceeds benefit the Alliance).  Initially for his daughter’s eyes only, the book has become a powerful story of hope and perseverance. 

Paul also saw a disturbing truth: Even a decade later, many young adults and their doctors still overlook the warning signs of colorectal cancer. 

“It’s horrifying that people are dying simply because conversations aren’t happening,” he says.

Paul’s journey is evidence that colorectal cancer is not just an older person’s disease. It’s also a reminder that we need to stop the silence — especially among men who avoid discussing GI symptoms or fear the perceived stigma of colonoscopies. 

Paul’s advice is clear.

“Be your own advocate,” he said. “If something feels off, push for the test, ask the questions. It could save your life.”