Colon Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms of colon cancer

Early stages ofcolon cancerare largely asymptomatic, meaning they cause no symptoms. More advanced cases of colon cancer may cause the following symptoms:

• Notable changes in bowel habits.You may experience frequent constipation or diarrhea that doesn’t improve. These changes may last longer than a few days in a row. Also, if you tend to pass bowel movements on a regular schedule every day, you might notice that the frequency has changed, or that stools have become narrower.
• Unable to empty your bowels.Along with constipation and other bowel changes, you may experience frequent urges to go, but never feel like you’ve completely emptied your bowels.
• Rectal bleedingor blood in the stool.While sometimes seen in cases of severe constipation or hemorrhoids, bleeding from the rectum could also be a sign of a more serious condition like colorectal cancer. In such cases, you might notice your stool has a visible light or dark red coloring, or it may have a tarry appearance from dark blood. You may also see blood on toilet paper after wiping.
• Chronic abdominal pain or cramps.Abdominal pain isconsidered a late stagecolon cancer symptom. You may feel ongoing pain in your abdominal area, and worsening cramps that may not go away after a bowel movement. Severe bloating may accompany pain in your abdomen, as well as pelvic pain.
• Nausea and vomiting.As colon cancer spreads, it may lead tobowel obstruction. This can in turn cause nausea and vomiting. In colon cancer, these symptoms may also be attributed to chronic constipation. It’s important to seek immediate medical care if you’ve vomited for more than 24 hours or if you can’t tolerate any fluids.
• Losing weight without trying.Sudden, unexplained weight loss can be related to numerous medical conditions. In the case of colon cancer, unintentional weight loss may bea sign of later stagesof this disease. Such weight loss may also be attributed to the effect of other symptoms, such as abdominal pain, nausea, or diarrhea, on your appetite.
• Chronic fatigue.You may feel tired all the time, despite getting adequate sleep and not currently going through any stressful life events.

What to do if you have any of these symptoms

Colorectal cancer remains the third most common type of cancer diagnosed in the United States. Regular colon cancer screenings can help detect polyps early, and your doctor may also be able to remove them during acolonoscopy.

If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms or have any other concerns regarding your colon health, talk with a doctor.

If your doctor rules out colon cancer, it’s possible another underlying condition may be causing your symptoms. These might include:

• hemorrhoids
• inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• 肠易激综合症(IBS)