Wilson et al.’s 2017 [35] meta-analysis of 12 studies linked preoperative anemia to poorer overall survival (hazard ratio 1.56) and disease-free survival (1.34), particularly in rectal cancer, which echoes Chardalias et al.’s 2023 [13] narrative review cautioning against anemia’s role in exacerbating inflammation via hepcidin pathways and increasing transfusion-related risks. Here, HAMP is linked to anemia (phenotype).