Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer is more common than people might think with nearly 50,000 deaths recorded per year. Colon and rectal cancer together known as colorectal cancers are the third most common type of cancer in men and women.
How does Colon cancer start?
Colon cancer is a cancer that starts in the rectum or colon. The colon is also known as the large intestine, and the rectum is situated at the end of the colon. Colon cancer usually starts out as a noncancerous growth called a polyp inside the inner lining of the colon (large intestine). Most colon polyps are harmless, but some of them may develop into cancer. Polyps form for a variety of reasons- they could be related to genetics, not eating enough fiber, consuming a diet high in red meat and other risk factors.
There are four stages that colon cancer progresses to, and those are:
Stage 1: In its earliest stage, the cancer penetrates the lining, or mucosa, of the colon or rectum but hasn’t yet spread to the organ walls.
Stage 2: In stage 2, the cancer begins to spread to the walls of the colon or rectum but does not affect the lymph nodes or nearby tissues.
Stage 3: The cancer moves to the lymph nodes in stage 3, but not to other parts of the body yet.
Stage 4: The cancer reaches its final stage, spreading to other distant organs, such as the liver or lungs.
The signs and symptoms of colon cancer depend on the location of the cancer, how advanced or at which stage it is at and how it affects the organs and tissue. At times, many cases of colorectal cancer may not show any symptoms or warning signs until the cancer has advanced. And since, symptoms can go unnoticed during the early stages of the disease, it is recommended that you get colon cancer screenings starting from the age of 50. Being able to detect colon cancer early, makes the survival rates much higher.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms of colon cancer is vital and can save your life. Listed below are signs that might indicate colon cancer which you should not ignore.
Unexplained Weight Loss
Unexplained or unintentional weight loss has been known as an indicator of several types of cancer, including colon cancer. Colorectal cancer can lead to unexplained weight loss in a variety of ways. Cancer cells use up a lot of the body’s energy supply, and the immune system also uses energy as it works hard to fight the disease. Cancer cells can release substances into the body that change the way food is converted to energy, which can cause weight loss.
Unexplained weight loss due to colon cancer may not occur until the cancer is in its advanced stages and it could be anywhere between 10 pounds or more in six months or less. Another reason for the weight loss could be due to the size of the tumor, which can grow and block the colon. This blockage can affect a person’s bowel habits.
Fatigue and Weakness
Fatigue is a feeling of exhaustion that does not go away with rest. Feeling fatigue or a sense of weakness is a sign of colon cancer due to internal blood loss or the cancer cells using up the body’s energy.
In many cases, the symptoms of colon cancer are inter-connected. Other colon cancer symptoms, such as unintentional weight loss and a change in bowel habits, can increase the feeling of weakness.
Abdominal pain
Although abdominal pain, bloating or cramps may not always be due to a serious condition, it is a telling sing of colon cancer. Abdominal pain that began recently and is severe and long-lasting can be a sign of cancer.
Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine, which can affect bowel habits. This change in bowel habits can lead to cramping, bloating and abdominal pain and could be an indicator of colon cancer. If you experience any amount of abdominal pain that is unfamiliar, you should talk to your doctor.
Unexplained Anemia
Similar to unexplained weight loss, unexplained anemia could also indicate signs of colon cancer. In colon cancer, anemia may be caused by a microscopic amount of chronic blood loss in the stool. Iron in the body then becomes deficit with the red blood cells and can slowly deplete the total body stores of iron. The production of new red blood cells is reduced and eventually the total red blood cell count decreases causing anemia. Anemia can also cause fatigue because the red blood cells are responsible for delivering oxygen to the body tissues.
Changes in Bowel Habits
Colon cancer can hinder the large intestine’s ability to perform its usual tasks, like ridding the body of waste and absorbing water and nutrients. Changes in you bowel habits that continue may indicate a more serious condition. Drastic changes in the consistency of stool can be an early sign that something isn’t quite right. Loose, watery stools, diarrhea or constipation unrelated to another condition can be a symptom of the disease and you should consult your doctor.
A colon polyp, that could turn cancerous overtime, also affects bowel movements. If you’ve noticed your stool becoming thinner or a change in the frequency of bowel movements, it could be a sign of colorectal cancer.
Blood in stool
A major warning sign of colon cancer is passing of bloody stool. If you notice either bright red or very dark blood in your stool, along with severe pain, this could be an indication of something serious. Consulting your doctor would be of help to get a fecal occult test to detect whether there is blood in the stool, and additional examinations can help your doctor determine the source of the blood and the proper course of treatment.
Rectal bleeding is also be a common sign of colon cancer. Bright red blood on the toilet paper after a bowel movement or red or pink water in the toilet bowl can be signs of rectal bleeding.
Getting treatment at the right stage of the condition can literally save your life. Successful treatments available for treating colon cancer include colonoscopies and colon cancer screenings. If you’re experiencing any of those symptoms, you should consult your doctor to know more about the condition.
