6 Early Signs of Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is a severe condition that can lead to death. Around 1 in 25 people will contract the disease during their lifetime, but early detection can limit its impact on your health.
Colon cancer is a severe condition that can lead to death. Around 1 in 25 people will contract the disease during their lifetime, but early detection can limit its impact on your health.
1. Rectal Bleeding
Rectal bleeding is the most common sign of colon cancer. This problem can also manifest as blood in the stool or dark fecal matter. However, it can be challenging to distinguish between hemorrhoids and colon cancer. Colon cancer typically causes more bleeding than hemorrhoids, and the blood has a bright red or dark maroon color. This blood can appear in your stool, toilet bowl, or on your toilet paper.
2. Weakness and Fatigue
If you experience unexplained weakness or fatigue that lasts for a few days, you could have colon cancer. Cancer can cause tumors or polyps to grow inside the colon, resulting in intestinal bleeding. This blood loss can cause anemia which leads to weakness and fatigue.
3. Stool Changes
Diarrhea (watery stool), constipation, and narrow stools are signs of early-stage colon cancer. In addition, changes in the frequency of bowel movements and the consistency of your stool are signals of the disease.
4. Weight Loss
Unexplained weight loss is another common sign of emerging colon cancer. The disease often interferes with the intestinal tract's ability to digest food, which can cause you to lose weight. If you feel like you're eating enough to maintain body mass but continue to lose weight, you could have colon cancer.
5. Stomach Pain, Cramps, or Bloating
Colon cancer frequently causes blockages in the lower intestine. This problem can lead to persistent pain, cramps, or bloating. Other cancer-induced blockage symptoms include nausea or vomiting.
6. Persistent Bowel Movement Urges
If you experience frequent urges to have a bowel movement but cannot produce stool, you could have colon cancer. These feelings are caused by a tumor or polyp growing inside your lower intestines, which your body interprets as being full of fecal matter.
The American Cancer Society uses the three-stage SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) system to classify disease progress. These stages are:
Localized
Colon cancer is limited to the original tumor. The five-year survival rate is 91%.
Regionalized
Colon cancer has grown into nearby structures or lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate is 72%.
Distant
Colon cancer has spread to distant organs or lymph nodes. The five-year survival rate is 14%.
Sixty-three percent of all people who contract colon cancer survive with treatment. However, your chances of living five or more years rapidly decrease as the disease progresses from the localized to the distant stage.
Your chance of contracting colon cancer increases as you age. While monitoring symptoms is a valuable precaution, screening tests are the best way to detect the disease early. Current research indicates that patients should test for colon cancer starting at age 45. Fortunately, many insurance companies pay for this screening without requiring co-payments from patients. Please consult your primary care physician to schedule these exams.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.