There are several symptoms associated with colon cancer, including a change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation), blood in the stool, abdominal pain, and weight loss. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for a diagnosis.
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive system, where wastes are removed from the body. Usually, colon cancers develop slowly over many years.
They often begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. Over time, some of these polyps can become colon cancers.
Most people with early-stage colon cancer have no symptoms.
This is one reason why regular screening tests are important for people who are at increased risk for this disease. If colon cancer does cause symptoms, they may include:
-A change in your bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool -Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool -Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain -A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely -Weakness or fatigue -Unexplained weight loss
If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor so that he or she can determine whether they’re caused by something else other than colon cancer.
Table of Contents
6 Warning Signs of Colon Cancer
What is the Biggest Symptom of Colon Cancer?
There are a few different ways to answer this question, as there are a few different types of colon cancer and each can present with different symptoms. However, the most common symptom of colon cancer is rectal bleeding. This can manifest as blood in the stool, on toilet paper after wiping, or even in the toilet bowl water itself.
Other common symptoms include changes in bowel habits (such as constipation or diarrhea), abdominal pain, and fatigue. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for further evaluation as they could be indicative of colon cancer.
What are the Silent Signs of Colon Cancer?
There are a few silent signs of colon cancer that you should be aware of. These include:
1. A change in your bowel habits – this could mean that you are going more often or less often than usual, or that your stools are looser or harder than usual.
2. Rectal bleeding – this may not be obvious at first, but if you notice blood in your stool it could be a sign of colon cancer.
3. abdominal pain – this could be a dull ache or a sharp pain and is usually worse after eating.
4. fatigue – feeling tired all the time can be a sign that something is wrong, and with colon cancer it may be due to the cancer itself or from anaemia caused by bleeding into the bowel.
5. weight loss – losing weight without trying to do so is another possible sign of colon cancer, especially if you also have other symptoms like fatigue or abdominal pain.
Does Stage 1 Colon Cancer Have Symptoms?
There are a variety of symptoms that may be associated with stage 1 colon cancer. These may include:
-Changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool
-A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so
-Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
-Persistent abdominal pain, cramping, or discomfort
-Weakness or fatigue
Where is Colon Cancer Pain Typically Felt?
There are a few different ways that colon cancer can cause pain. The most common type of pain is a dull ache in the lower abdomen. This is typically caused by a tumor pressing on the bowel or other organs in the abdomen.
The pain may get worse when you eat or during certain activities like walking or going to the bathroom. You may also experience cramping, bloating, and gas. If the cancer has spread to your lymph nodes or liver, you may feel pain in those areas as well.
In some cases, colon cancer can cause a blockage in the intestine which can lead to severe abdominal pain and vomiting. If you experience any type of abdominal pain, it’s important to see your doctor so they can rule out other potential causes.
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How I Knew I Had Colon Cancer
It wasn’t until I was 37 that I began experiencing any serious health issues. I had just given birth to my third child and started noticing some blood in my stool. At first, I thought it was just an aftermath of childbirth but when the bleeding persisted, I knew something wasn’t right.
I went to see my doctor who ordered a colonoscopy. The results came back showing that I had stage 3 colon cancer.
I was in complete shock.
It felt like someone had punched me in the gut – I couldn’t believe it. My family history didn’t show any instances of cancer so I never thought this would happen to me. But here I was, facing one of the most serious diseases imaginable.
After coming to terms with my diagnosis, I started treatment immediately. Thankfully, it was successful and today, 5 years later, I am healthy and cancer-free. Looking back, there were definitely some red flags that led up to my diagnosis that I simply ignored because I thought they were nothing serious.
Early Symptoms of Colon Cancer
Most people are aware that cancer is a serious disease, but many don’t know that there are different types of cancer. Colon cancer is one type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is a long, coiled tube at the end of the digestive system where wastes are stored until they leave the body as stool.
The exact cause of colon cancer is unknown, but there are several risk factors that can increase your chance of developing the disease. These include: age (55 or older), African-American race, personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, family history of colorectal cancer, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, and lifestyle choices like smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Most cases of colon cancer develop from precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) in the colon or rectum.
Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. However, over time some polyps can become larger and may bleed or change shape. These changes can lead to colon cancer.
The early stages of colon cancer usually don’t have any symptoms. This makes regular screenings (including a digital rectal exam and/or fecal occult blood test) important for people at high risk for the disease. However, some people with early stage colon cancers do experience symptoms like: bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; changes in stool size or shape; abdominal pain; fatigue; weight loss; and anemia .
If you experience any of these symptoms it’s important to see your doctor right away for further testing.
Symptoms of Colon Cancer in Women
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in women and the second leading cause of cancer death. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 96,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 39,000 deaths from the disease in 2020. The majority of these cases occur in people over the age of 50.
However, colon cancer is increasingly being diagnosed in younger adults as well.
There are a number of risk factors for colon cancer, including family history, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, and certain lifestyle choices such as diet and smoking. African American women have a higher risk of developing colon cancer than Caucasian women.
The most common symptom of colon cancer is bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool. Other symptoms may include abdominal pain, cramping, fatigue, weight loss, and changes in bowel habits. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see your doctor right away for testing.
Early detection is key to successful treatment of colon cancer.
What Does Colon Cancer Pain Feel Like
There are many different types of pain that can be associated with colon cancer, and it often depends on the individual case and stage of cancer. The most common type of pain is a dull ache in the abdomen, which is caused by the tumor pressing on nearby organs. This can also lead to cramping or sharp pains in the abdomen, as well as bloating or gas.
In later stages, when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, patients may experience back pain, bone pain, or neurological problems. If you are experiencing any type of pain that you think might be related to colon cancer, it’s important to see a doctor right away for an evaluation.
Stage 1 Colon Cancer Symptoms
If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s important to consult with your doctor as they could be indicative of stage 1 colon cancer:
– Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
– Persistent abdominal pain, cramping, or discomfort
– A change in bowel habits, such as more frequent or looser stools
– Thin stools
– Feeling that you need to have a bowel movement even after you’ve just had one
How to Prevent Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States. It is also one of the most preventable types of cancer. There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of developing colon cancer.
One of the best ways to prevent colon cancer is to get screened for it. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. The two main types of screening tests are colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy.
Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you and how often you should get screened.
You can also lower your risk by making healthy lifestyle choices. Eating a diet high in fiber and low in fat may help protect against colon cancer.
Getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also important. And if you drink alcohol, limit yourself to no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men.
If you have a family history of colon cancer, you may be at higher risk and may need to start getting screened at an earlier age than the general population.
Is Colon Cancer Curable
According to the American Cancer Society, the short answer is yes, colon cancer is curable. Although, as with any cancer, the chance of a cure depends on many factors. These include the stage of the cancer (whether it has spread), the location of the tumor(s), and a person’s overall health.
If caught early enough, colon cancer can often be removed surgically with no need for further treatment. The 5-year survival rate for people whose colon cancer is detected at an early stage and treated appropriately is about 90%.
However, if the cancer has progressed to a more advanced stage, surgery may not be enough on its own and additional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation may be recommended.
The good news is that even in these cases, there is still a very high chance of surviving colon cancer – the 5-year survival rate for people with Stage III colon cancers is about 70%. And for people with Stage IV cancers that have spread to other organs, while difficult to treat, there are still many options available and the 5-year survival rate is about 11%.
In conclusion, whether you are diagnosed with early or late-stage colon cancer, there are treatments available that give you a very good chance at beating this disease.
Conclusion
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women in the United States. Symptoms of colon cancer can include fatigue, weight loss, abdominal pain, and blood in the stool. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor for a diagnosis.