Baba James Survived: The Warning Signs He Ignored
By Mpundu Valerie
DISCLAIMER: This content is for health awareness and education only. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every person's condition is different. Please visit your nearest health facility and consult a qualified healthcare professional for screening, diagnosis, and care.
Baba James was 52, a kombi driver from Glen View 3. He was the man who woke up at 4 am, drank strong black tea, and always had the same answer whenever someone asked how he was doing.
“I'm fine.”
In late 2024, however, something changed. He started visiting the toilet more frequently. He would finish, only to feel the urge to go again 20 minutes later. Sometimes, nothing came out except mucus. Then, one morning, he saw bright red blood in the toilet bowl.
He flushed quickly and said nothing to his wife. “Mapiles,” he told himself. The men at the rank all said so. He bought herbs from the market. Sat in salty water. Stopped eating beans. But the ache on his left side never left. Walking home from the rank, a road he knew for 15 years now left him breathless. His trousers hung loose. He had lost 8kg without trying.
His daughter Chipo, a nurse aide, confronted him. "Baba, four times this morning. I saw blood." He was angry from shame. Fathers don't talk about this with daughters.
She returned with a pamphlet and read aloud:
- Blood in stool
- Change in bowel habits that doesn't go away
- Persistent stomach cramps and pain
- Constant tiredness and weakness
- Unexplained weight loss
He had all five. The local clinic referred him for tests. Colonoscopy. Biopsy.
Stage 2 colorectal adenocarcinoma.
The doctor said: "You are lucky it hasn't spread beyond the colon wall. Six months later, this would be a different conversation." Surgery removed part of his colon. For three weeks he lived with a colostomy bag. He wept when he first saw it. Then came chemotherapy nausea, hair loss, long nights of prayer- oh, he prayed!!
He survived.
Today Baba James is back behind the wheel. He lifts his shirt at the rank and shows his scar. "I thought it was piles," he tells the other men. "Piles almost killed me." Many of us whisper about cancer of the bottom. That silence is killing our fathers, brothers, and husbands.
Colorectal cancer is common, but it is treatable when found.
Screening recommendations depend on a person's age, family history, risk factors, and local medical guidance. Adults aged 45 and older should discuss appropriate colorectal cancer screening with a qualified healthcare professional. Anyone experiencing concerning symptoms should seek assessment regardless of age.
Too often, conversations about bowel problems are buried beneath shame and silence. Men may fear appearing weak, while others may delay seeking help because they assume the problem is minor. But silence does not make symptoms disappear.
Baba James's experience reminds us of the importance of paying attention to changes in our bodies and encouraging loved ones to seek help when something is wrong. Sometimes, the person who saves a life is the one who refuses to stay quiet.
If you have experienced cancer or supported someone through the journey, kindly share your story on 263 774 778 179. Your experience may encourage someone else to seek help.
Colorectal cancer warning signs
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