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How to Spot Colon Cancer Warning Signs

Colon cancer usually starts out as relatively harmless polyps, which are easily removed if they are discovered in a colonoscopy procedure. Undetected, they may develop into cancerous tumors. Potential symptoms of a tumor may take some time to appear, and may not always be due to a tumor, but they should not be ignored. Colon cancer is more likely to be treatable if detected early.

  1. Change in Bowel Habits

    • A tumor in the colon can obstruct the flow of waste and change the frequency with which you need to defecate. You may need to go more often and in smaller amounts, or you may find yourself with larger loads all at once. You may also feel that your bowel doesn't seem to empty completely when you do use the toilet.

    Changes in Stool

    • By constricting the flow of waste, a tumor can cause your stool to be narrower than usual, or perhaps flattened somewhat in cross-section. An unusually thin or ribbon-shaped stool is therefore a possible sign of colon cancer. Tumors may also bleed, so the presence of blood in your stool is another warning sign. The blood may be fresh and bright red if the tumor is near the end of the bowel, or dark, almost black, if it has traveled a longer distance.

    Cramps or Pain

    • A bowel obstruction can cause significant discomfort as waste piles up. Gas normally produced by the breakdown of food matter can also be trapped, adding to the pressure. While this can occasionally happen with a healthy bowel, if it seems to happen more often than normal, you should mention it to your physician.

    Loss of Appetite and Weight

    • By physically clogging up your digestive tract, as well as flooding the body with toxins from the backed-up fecal matter, colon cancer can cause a loss of appetite. which in turn leads to a loss of weight. This sounds like something you would notice right away, but it can develop subtly; there is nothing immediately suspicious about just not feeling very hungry.

    Fatigue and Lethargy

    • Colon cancer can take a lot out of you. Your body knows something is wrong and is diverting resources to try to fight off whatever it is. As well, since tumors often bleed, the steady loss of blood can leave you anemic, and you may find yourself tiring easily from even very mild exertion. Don't assume you're just out of shape; such fatigue could be a sign of something much worse.

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