Colon Cancer Symptoms
With proper screening, colon cancer should be detected BEFORE
the development of symptoms, when it is most curable.
Most cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. The following symptoms, however, may
indicate colon cancer:
Colon cancer symptoms
The earliest sign of colon cancer may be bleeding. Most of the tumors bleed only small amounts and the bleeding
is occasional. Evidence of the blood is found during chemical testing of the feces for
hidden (occult) blood. This is called fecal occult blood test.
When tumors grow to a large size, they may cause a change in the bowel habits. The stools
may be very narrow in diameter. There may be other symptoms of general stomach discomfort,
such as a feeling of fullness or bloating, stomach cramps, gas pains, diarrhea or
constipation. Sometimes the patient complains of a feeling that the bowel does not empty
completely. Constant tiredness and weight loss with no known reason may be other warning
signs. Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer, however they
must be evaluated by a doctor without delay
Colon Cancer Symptoms - Risk Factors
Knowing the risk factors can help you take action and get screening before colon cancer
symptoms develop.
- Family history: Some rare disease conditions such as Familial Adenomatous Polyps (FAP)
and Lynch syndrome (a genetic condition that predisposes certain families to colon cancer,
even when polyps are not present) are present in certain families and may make an
individual more likely to develop cancer of the colon or the rectum. Inheriting defective
genes causes approximately 10% of colorectal cancers.
- History of colorectal cancer: Even when colorectal cancer has been completely removed,
new cancers may still develop in other areas of the colon and the rectum.
- Recurrent intestinal polyps: Polyps are benign growths in the colon or rectum. While
most polyps are harmless, some particular types do increase the risk of colorectal cancer,
especially if they are large and there are many of them.
- Inflammatory bowel disease: Chronic ulcerative colitis, a condition in which the colon
is inflamed over a long period of time and causes ulcers in the lining, can increase the
risk of colon cancer.
- Age: About 90% of colorectal cancers are found in people over the age of 50.
- Diet: Eating foods that are high in fat and low in fiber may increase the risk of
colorectal cancer.
- Physical inactivity: A sedentary lifestyle and not enough physical activity has been
reported to be associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
Watch for these colon cancer symptoms.
The earliest sign of colon cancer may be bleeding. Most of the tumors bleed only small
amounts and the bleeding is occasional. Evidence of the blood is found during chemical
testing of the feces for hidden (occult) blood. This is called fecal occult blood test.
When tumors grow to a large size, they may cause a change in the bowel habits. The stools
may be very narrow in diameter. There may be other symptoms of general stomach discomfort,
such as a feeling of fullness or bloating, stomach cramps, gas pains, diarrhea or
constipation. Sometimes the patient complains of a feeling that the bowel does not empty
completely. Constant tiredness and weight loss with no known reason may be other warning
signs. Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than cancer, however they
must be evaluated by a doctor without delay |