SYMPTOMS OF COLON CANCER
Colon cancer is often times referred to as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is a cancer of the large intestine and the rectum. The colon absorbs water and nutrients from foods, the rectum is at the end of the digestive tract and holds stool before passing through the anus and out of the body. Colon cancer is cancer that occurs quite frequently with development in 1 out of 20 people. Colon cancer is more common in women than in men. Colon cancer usually originated in the sigmoid colon just above the rectum and can grow throughout the tissues slowly over several years. Colon cancer usually starts as a polyp; a small benign growth before developing into a malignant growth. The majority of colon cancer diagnoses are of adenocarcinomas which are cancers of the cells lining the colon and rectum and usually involving the glands of the colon and rectum. The symptoms of colon cancer are usually not highly noticeable until the cancer has advanced or spread which makes regular colon cancer screening for early detection and treatment essential.
Colon cancer is a fully treatable disease if discovered early and treatment initiated. Symptoms of colon cancer are categorized as either local or systemic. Local symptoms of colon cancer have a direct impact on your bowel habits and may cause changes such as more frequent or less frequent bowel movements constipation, or loose watery diarrhea, or an altering pattern of constipation and diarrhea combined. Visible changes in the color or appearance of stool such blood in stool that is either dark red or bright or abnormally thin stools. Abdominal discomfort such as bloating frequent gas and cramps that are unexplained are all signs of colon cancer or abdominal pain with tenderness. Colon cancer symptoms that impact the entire body are considered systemic and can include unintentional weight loss, loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting, anemia a (a low iron or red blood cell count), and jaundice(yellowing of the skin and/or eyes).
Those at risk for colon cancer should consult a doctor if they experience any of these symptoms on a regular basis. Those at a greater risk of colon cancer at those over 60, have diets high in red or processed meats, have had other forms of cancer, have had colon polyps, and have had bowel inflammatory diseases, those with a family history of colon cancer and those with a history of breast cancer.