Colon cancer warning signs
Colon cancer is a very common type of cancer and affects thousands of people every year. This cancer can affect the digestive organs and understanding colon cancer warning signs is an important step in combating the disease. Early diagnosis is important in this and other cancers and if you understand how to spot changes and causes for concern in your body, an early diagnosis and early treatment is much more likely.
The number one warning sign of colon cancer is blood in the stool. The blood is typically bright red in color and is very clearly visible after a bowel movement. Many patients may also notice a black looking blood tinge in the stool or stool that looks much like tar. While blood may not always be detected through merely looking at the stool, blood tests can determine whether or not blood is present.
Growth of tumors in patients who have colon cancer may cause many changes in bowel functions. While some symptoms may not be evident in the earlier stages of the disease, there may be many symptoms that present themselves. Persistent diarrhea is a very early warning sign of colon cancer and should be monitored carefully. If you have diarrhea that does not clear up on its own in just a few days, you should consult your physician. While some medications and illnesses typically cause mild diarrhea, when it presents itself and is clearly not caused by any other factor, it should be reported.
Another early colon cancer warning sign is persistent vomiting. The growth of tumors in the colon may cause pressure to be put on vital organs located in the abdomen. This can cause nausea and vomiting. If a patient has been vomiting for more than three days, without any cause for the nausea and vomiting, this may be a symptom of the early stages of colon cancer. Tests such as x-rays and CT scans can be done to determine whether or not a tumor is present in the colon. Patients who have persistent vomiting may also experience pain in the abdominal region. This is typically caused by a growing tumor putting more and more pressure on the area. It is important to understand that pain in the abdominal area is a symptom of several disorders and conditions. If this pain or pressure persists for several days and/or is accompanied by vomiting or diarrhea, it should be evaluated by your physician.
Persistent bloating may also accompany abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. When a tumor in the colon grows, it may cause the abdominal area to appear bloated. In addition, the abdominal area may feel bloated and rigid. Because bloating is also a symptom of other conditions such as intestinal gas and other intestinal problems and PMS, tests will need to be done to determine the exact cause of the bloating.
Weight loss is a symptom of many forms of cancer. If you unexpectedly begin losing weight, particularly if you are trying to gain weight, this could be a warning sign. A decrease in stool size should also be monitored particularly if you have not changed your eating habits. When tumors grow in the colon, they leave very little room for the food that you eat to be digested and flushed from the body. Stools that are unusually thin may signal problems in the colon and should be checked. Basically any change in your regular bowel habits could be warning signs of colon cancer. If you begin experiencing constipation or diarrhea, have looser or thinner stools or a drastic change in the frequency in which you have bowel movements, you should consult your physician.
You should also check with your doctor if after a bowel movement, your bowel does not feel empty. Incompletely bowel emptying is a common sign of colon cancer. This creates a full feeling in the bowels even after bowel movements. Finally, extreme and unexplained fatigue is a symptom of many types of cancer. If you are suddenly very tired with no explanation for this feeling and the feeling lasts for more than just a few days, you should report to your doctor for diagnostic testing. Unexplained fatigue can signal many medical conditions so testing will likely be done to determine the exact cause of your fatigue.
Comments are closed
Related Information
