Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States, with almost 100,000 new cases diagnosed every year. It is also the third most common cause of cancer deaths. Although there are routine screenings intended to catch this disease while it is easily treatable, it is still one of the most feared kinds of cancer. However, there is no need for fear. There are many innovative treatments for this type of cancer, which is why it has excellent survival rates when caught early. In all kinds of cancer, it is crucial that people recognize the symptoms so they can get treatment before the disease has spread.
This kind of cancer begins with polyps, or small growths, in the colon. Over time, the cells in these polyps can gradually change to be cancerous. When this happens, the growths begin to grow out of control. They also may affect the area in other ways, by blocking bowel movement, bleeding, and pressing on nerves. These factors cause many of the signs and symptoms of colon cancer. The following are the top nine signs of colon cancer. If you or a loved one have any of these symptoms, you should see your doctor immediately for further testing and evaluation.
1. Abdomen Pain
Pain in the abdomen is one of the most common symptoms of colon cancer. This pain can be dull and feel a great deal like gas or constipation. It may feel like the discomfort is coming from all throughout the abdomen rather than any specific place. Unlike gas pains, however, it does not go away. Instead, it is constant or recurring and gradually worsens. Many people ignore it because there are many non-cancer causes of this type of pain. In addition, the pain feels very mild at first and is not alarming. This is due to the way the nerves in the abdomen work. They usually register pain in the intestines more as discomfort and fullness rather than the sharp pains one would expect from cancer.
There are times when colon cancer can cause sharp pains as well, particularly once it is advanced. If it causes a perforation, or tear, in the intestinal wall, this will cause sharp pains. In addition, people will have sharp abdomen pain if their cancer metastasizes to other parts of the abdomen. Dull pain that does not resolve in a few days should be worked up by your primary care doctor. Sharp abdominal pain should always be assumed to be an emergency, requiring an immediate trip to the hospital.
2. Blood in Stool
Cancer cells require more blood supply than other kinds of cells because they are growing quickly. In addition, they release factors that encourage the growth of new blood vessels to meet their high needs for energy and oxygen. These new vessels can be very prone to bleeding. In addition, as cancerous polyps grow, they can get large enough to suffer friction and tearing from normal bowel movements. Blood in stool is incredibly common in colon cancer. This may be fresh red blood or older blood that is black and tarry. Either type of blood in stool should be reported to your doctor.
3. Change in Bowel Habits
Many people who have colon cancer notice small changes in their bowel habits in the early stages. As the cancer grows, these become more noticeable. They may notice discomfort with bowel movements as the polyp undergoes friction as feces moves past it. They may go to the bathroom less often or even more often. Foods and activities that did not formerly irritation their digestive system now do. They may notice changes in the texture and/or size of their stools. Most people write off these concerns as unimportant, but dramatic changes in bowel habits should always be reported to a physician. In many cases, these changes are an early sign that something is wrong in the digestive tract.
4. Constipation
Constipation is a common problem, especially as we grow older. Most people who are constipated do not have any kind of cancer. However, constipation can be a sign of colon cancer in many cases. As a tumor grows into the internal space of the intestine, it blocks stool from passing. Because the colon absorbs water from stool, this can lead to bowel movements being harder, less frequent, and even painful.
In most cases, constipation is temporary, caused by diet and other lifestyle factors. If you notice that your constipation is constant and does not respond to changes such as eating more fiber, it is important to get checked.
5. Narrow Stools
Newly or perpetually narrow stools are very concerning for cancer of the digestive tract. Feces is liquid until it reaches the lower digestive tract, where water is reabsorbed. It then becomes firmer. For this reason, bowel movements tend to take the shape of the colon and rectum. However, if a stool needs to move past a growth, it will sometimes be compressed in the process. This can lead to thinner stools. If your stools are thin, especially if they are what doctors call “pencil thin,” something is likely blocking part of the colon. This may be merely a polyp, but it also can be cancer.
6. Anemia
Cancer needs and tends to develop a rich blood supply. New blood vessels are routed to the tumor by a variety of growth factors produced by malignant cells. Cancerous tissue also is often more delicate than healthy tissue and bleeds more readily, even from the passage of stool. As a result, colon cancer often causes lower digestive tract bleeding. Many people do not examine their stools closely enough to notice blood, especially older blood that is darkly colored and coagulable. However, if you notice signs of anemia, such as paleness and fatigue, this could be a sign that you are losing blood into your colon as the result of a cancerous tumor.
7. Fatigue
Cancer cells grow out of control, without the checkpoints that normal healthy cells have. As a result, they use up much of the body’s energy supply, leaving people tired. In addition, colon cancer can cause bleeding and thus anemia, which also can cause fatigue. While fatigue can be caused by almost any condition, it is sometimes an indication of cancer. If you feel you have less energy than usual despite performing normal activities and getting enough sleep, it is time to get a full work up from your physician. This includes screening for colon cancer and other deadly causes of fatigue.
8. Abdominal Discomfort
Because of the way nerves in our digestive tract are “wired,” we often perceive painful events in that region as more of a vague discomfort until they begin to irritate our peritoneum, or abdominal wall lining. If a person has abdominal discomfort that is not caused by diet and other identifiable sources, it could be a sign of something more sinister. This is especially true if the discomfort persists for more than a week. There are many things that can cause persistent abdominal discomfort, many of them less serious. However, it is important to get deadly conditions such as colon cancer ruled out by a physician.
9. Weight Loss
Weight loss is one of the most common signs of cancer. This is due to the high caloric needs of cancerous cells. In addition, people who have colon cancer may not be properly absorbing nutrients and calories from food because their bowel is not functioning properly. This leads to weight loss. Unfortunately, many people are happy to lose weight and do not realize that this is a concerning symptom that can indicate cancer. If you lose ten pounds or more in a six month period without trying to lose weight or eating less, this should be immediately reported to your doctor.
