Colon Cancer: Top 10 Symptoms To Watch Out For

The third most diagnosed malignant growth for both women and men in the US with more than 100,000 new cases assessed for 2019 is colorectal malignant growth. [1]

Tragically, symptoms of colon malignant growth can seem, by all accounts, to be something different completely. It is significant to distinguish early symptoms and start treatment as soon as possible. Survival rates rely upon how much colon malignant growth has spread or which stage it is in. [2]

Symptoms of Colon Malignant Growth:

1. Bowel Disturbance

Early warning signs of colon malignant growth are obstruction, looseness of the bowels, a change in stool consistency, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), narrow stools, and other issues. Colon malignant growth in patients often have been diagnoses related to trouble in bowel movements.

2. Fatigue or Weakness

Colon cancer causes tumors or polyps to form which can lead to intestinal bleeding and anemia. This blood loss then causes dizziness, fatigue, exhaustion, weakness, and difficulty breathing. If these symptoms appear together with feeling cold often, even when it’s warm outside, and sleeping much more, it might be colon cancer.

3. Unexplained or Sudden Weight Loss

One sign to watch out for regarding colon cancer is a loss of appetite. The reason appetite is slowed down comes from the fact that colon cancer inhibits the body from efficiently eliminating  waste. Colon cancer patients often mention feeling full or that they aren’t hungry.

4. Stomach Pain

While bloating and gas are bodily functions that happen to everyone, chronic cramping, gas, nausea and pain from colon cancer can require immediate medical attention. 

5. Abdomen Pain

If an abdominal pain persists, it should be looked into. Pain may be due to an intestinal tear or obstruction due to a colon cancer polyp, or an enlarged organ.

6. Blood in Stool

A common cause of blood in stool can be hemorrhoids. When the blood is bright red, then it may be linked to the renal tract because it hasn’t had sufficient time to darken. If the blood in stool is darker or is dark red or black, this might mean there’s bleeding inside the digestive tract.

7. Vomiting

Everyone knows how awful vomiting can be, and it can be caused by a number of different issues such as pregnancy, food poisoning, motion sickness, common colds but it is also very common in colon cancer. 

8. Skin Showing Jaundice

The liver filters blood, and colon cancer usually spreads to the liver first. This process blocks bile ducts and bile ends up in the bloodstream thus causing yellowish skin and eyes, darker urine, itching skin, and pale stools.

9. Bowel Urgency

If pressure in the bowels persists and seems more than usual, it may ne because a tumor is affecting renal tissue or causing stool blockage. 

10. Unexplained Anemia and Deficiency in Iron

Anemia and iron deficiency are an early warning sign for colon cancer on the right side of the colon. This symptom is the first to show up before any bowel issues or noticeable tumors. Anemia is very important because otherwise colon cancer originating from the right side of the colon is very hard to pick up. A slow loss of blood and anemia due to tumors on the right side of the colon causes iron deficiency over time

[1]https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
[2]https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/statistics

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