Colon cancer happens when cells that line in the rectum or colon turn abnormal and grow out of control. This is also called colorectal cancer and is the third most common type of cancer that men and women in the country are diagnosed with. Here are some of the early warning symptoms for colon cancer that you should know about.
- Change in bowel habits
At the beginning of the condition, the lining of your colon will be clumped by a group of cells called colon polyp. This group of cells, as they grow bigger, can affect bowel movements. One of the early warning symptoms for colon cancer is inconsistent bowel patterns, including loose stools, constipation, thinning of stools, and random changes in the frequency of bowel movements. - Rectal bleeding
Another common symptom that you should not ignore is rectal bleeding. Some people may start noticing their stools red in color or mixed with blood. For others, the stains of blood in the toilet paper should be an early warning symptom for colon cancer. Stools that are consistently black or dark brown can also mean the stools are mixed with dried blood. - Weight loss
With the development of cancer, the body starts producing cancer-fighting compounds called cytokines. These can cause unexplained weight loss. The unexplained weight loss is identified as losing 10 or more pounds over six months without making any effort. - Fatigue and tiredness
As the tumor cells keep growing, it starts taking up all the energy produced in the body, and this causes unexplained fatigue and tiredness all through the day. The change in bowel habits can also cause fatigue. - Abdominal cramps
With the spread of the cancer cells and the random changes in bowel habits, the person may get severe and persistent abdominal cramps. The abdominal cramps that are caused due to other reasons get better with rest and medication. However, when cramps are an early warning symptom for colon cancer, they do not get better with time and need to be checked out. - Sense of incomplete bowel movements
The development of tumors in the rectum can make the person feel like his/her bowel movements are not complete every time they visit the toilet. The feeling of incomplete bowel movements may cause the person to visit the toilet multiple times in a day. This, when accompanied by other early warning symptoms for colon cancer, definitely needs to be checked out right away with your doctor.
Keep a note of all these early warning symptoms for colon cancer. Do not hesitate to talk to your doctor to get some clarity if you have one or more of these symptoms. When identified early, this condition can be treated successfully, and the person can have an extended and healthy quality of life.
