Colon Cancer Symptons

Colon cancer symptoms can at times be difficult to detect. Many people who are diagnosed with colon cancer have very few symptoms, if any. Therefore, it’s important that you pay attention to your body and possible signs of trouble. If you notice more serious colon cancer symptoms or if you have a combination of symptoms, you need to make an appointment with your primary care physician right away. Early detection can make all the difference when fighting colon cancer.

1. Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding Blood in your stool or bleeding before, during or after bowel movements is a very serious symptom. Even if you don’t have colon cancer, something is causing the bleeding, and you should have it checked out by a specialist, such as a gastroenterologist. If the bleeding is a symptom of colon cancer, it will be a maroon or bright red color.
2. Diarrhea or change in bowel habits These changes might be symptoms of colon cancer if they are persistent, have no other obvious cause and do not go away after a short period of time. Changes in bowel habits that can be a symptom of colon cancer also include constipation or a sudden change in stool consistency.
3. Weight loss Weight loss can be a symptom of colon cancer if it is sudden and cannot be explained by some other factor, such as the flu or a change in diet. Sudden, unexplained weight loss is a symptom of many cancers, including colon cancer. Sudden weight loss would be losing more than 5% of your body weight in a short time period, such as six to twelve months.
4. Intestinal obstruction This is basically an obstruction in your large intestine, and it can be a colon cancer symptom. Intestinal obstruction needs to be diagnosed by a trained physician, but some warning signs include abdominal pain, gas, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting and bad breath.
5. Abdominal pain A feeling of pain, discomfort or cramps in your abdominal area is not always present with colon cancer. In fact, abdominal pain is a rare symptom of colon cancer, but if you’re having issues, such as consistent pain, gas or cramping, along with other symptoms of colon cancer, you should see your primary care physician.