Colon Cancer Warning Signs

As colon cancer is a life threatening disease, it is better to know about the common colon cancer warning signs so that timely check up and treatment can be availed. This article will provide you with all the information about colon cancer warning signs.

Cancerous growth in the colon , rectum and appendix is referred to as colon cancer or large bowel cancer. The very early symptoms of colon cancer are similar to the symptoms of other common and minor ailments and so often remain undetected in the early stages. Large intestine extracts salt and water from the solid wastes and helps to store and control the elimination of the fecal matter from the body. Approximately 1,15,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer every year, according to the American Cancer Society and it is the fourth leading cause of death in females and third leading cause of death due to cancer in men. Here is an overview of early warning signs of colon cancer.

Early Warning Signs of Colon Cancer

Adenomatous Polyps Degeneration: Adenomatous polyps are small benign clumps of cells in the large intestine. Colon cancer occurs when the enlarged adenomatous polyps degenerate to develop adenocarcinomas over time. This is found in people below the age of 40. So, people diagnosed with adenomatous polyps can take it as a warning sign of colon cancer.

Bowel Habit Changes: Significant changes in the bowel habit like frequent constipation or diarrhea or marked changes in the consistency of stools persistent for more than fifteen days, lasting abdominal discomfort accompanied by gases, pain, cramps, abdominal pain during bowel movement are all colon cancer warning signs as tumor obstructs bowel passage.

Bloating: A tumor at the end of the colon can be sensed as a stubborn piece of waste which causes a 'sense of fullness' and does not offer you a feeling of being completely relieved. This bloating sensation is one of the common colon cancer warning signs.

Genetic Abnormality: If there is hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, then colon cancer can develop without the precursor polyps as it is said to be related to genetic abnormality. This can be considered as one of the main warning signs of colon cancer.

Other Diseases: Other cancers like ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or breast cancer as well as ulcerative colitis and obesity can lead to colon cancer.

Bad Habits: Alcohol abuse, excessive smoking, lack of high fiber diet leading to abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen can be called warning signs of colon cancer.

Bleeding: Chronic rectal bleeding followed by iron deficiency anemia and weakness along with fatigue is a colon cancer warning sign as it is one of the colon cancer early symptoms.

Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss or weight loss without any reason or effort, can be a colon cancer warning sign as the tumor releases certain chemicals which increase the rate of body metabolism.

Healthy diet and exercises leading to controlled weight can help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Avoiding alcohol and tobacco will also definitely reduce the risk of colon cancer. Depending upon the location of the tumor in the large intestine and the overall health, the colon cancer warning signs can differ from person to person. As we have seen, medical history of a person also plays an important role in determining the appearence of colon cancer early symptoms. Doctors suggest annual fecal occult blood testing, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy every 10 years and barium enema every five years, for the detection of colon cancer. It is advised to consult your physician immediately if you ever notice any of the colon cancer warning signs.