Cancer is often a quiet disease without obvious symptoms. Colon cancer, however, has several early warning signs. Because most of the signs of colon cancer involve bowel habits, patients may feel embarrassed to report them to a doctor. Bowel habits may change slowly over time, making it more difficult to detect a change, therefore it is important to know signs of colon cancer and report them to a doctor immediately.
Bowel Habit Changes
Although some patients perceive it as embarrassing, it is important to be familiar with individual bowel habits including frequency, color, shape and consistency. It is important to note any change in bowel habits that lasts longer than a few days. The National Cancer Institute states that this may include diarrhea, constipation and change in the size, shape or consistency of stool. Additional warning signs include the sensation of a full bowel after a movement, or the urge to have a movement with no stool present. When the stool becomes more narrow than usual it may indicate an obstruction or mass in the colon. Blood in the stool is an important warning sign and may indicate bleeding in the colon. The blood may be bright red and easily visible which usually means the location of the bleeding is at the end of the colon. If the stool appears black or tarry it may mean there is old blood present and the bleeding may be located at the beginning or middle of the colon. These symptoms should be reported to a doctor immediately.
Weight Loss
According to the National Cancer Institute, unexplained or unintended weight loss is a strong cancer warning sign when combined with other symptoms. The weight loss may be related to anorexia, or loss of appetite. It may be related to the cancer or to symptoms of the cancer such as nausea or vomiting.
Abdominal or Rectal Pain
Pain is often a colon cancer warning sign. The University of California San Francisco Medical Center states that abdominal discomfort, including sharp pains such as gas pains or cramping, and generalized abdominal discomfort such as aching, fullness or bloating, may indicate colon cancer. Pain or fullness may also be present in the rectum. It is important to note that discomfort related to colon cancer may be vague and may not feel like traditional pain.
Fatigue
There are many causes for fatigue but, like weight loss, when combined with other symptoms it may be a cancer warning sign. Fatigue is constant tiredness that interferes with daily activities and is not relieved with adequate sleep and nutrition. When these warning signs are present it is important to contact a doctor quickly because if colon cancer is the diagnosis, the patient may want to initiate treatment immediately.
