Colorectal Cancer in most cases is a slow growing cancer that can sometimes take decades to grow. While it is a slow growing cancer, it is still the second leading cause of cancer death in men and the third leading cause of cancer death in women in the United States of America. It remains the leading cause of cancer deaths because many people are asymptomatic until the tumor has become large and/or the cancer cells have spread to distant sites.
Some common signs and symptoms associated with Colon Cancer include:
- change in bowel habits
- rectal bleeding and/or blood within stool
- abdominal pain
- a feeling that one cannot completely expel to contents of their bowel through bowel movement
- weight loss
- fatigue and/or weakness
Patients may also notice change in their current bowel habits. For example, when an individual is having a bowel movement, they may notice more periods of constipation and/or more periods of diarrhea. Some individuals notice long pencil-thin stools and the feeling that they are unable to empty their intestines. Individuals may also notice gross blood visualized by the human eye in the toilet bowl. If there is gross blood in stool, it can be a sign of Colon Cancer. If an individual is losing weight, especially without any effort, this can be a worrisome sign that is commonly defined as cancer, until proven otherwise. While these signs/symptoms may be associated with a variety of gastrointestinal pathologies, it is imperative to further evaluate the individual to rule out Colon Cancer with proper screening tests.
Recommended Read: Causes of Colorectal Cancer
Common signs and symptoms associated with Rectal Cancer may be as follows:
- change in bowel habits
- blood in the stool
- mucus in stool
- narrow stool
- pain with bowel movements
- abdominal pain
- microcytic anemia
- unexplained weight loss
- weakness and/or fatigue
Individuals may notice dark red blood and/or bright red blood within their stool. Individuals with Rectal Cancer may present with iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is a form of microcytic anemia and may be a presenting factor on routine lab work that can indicate Rectal Cancer. While these signs/symptoms may be from a variety of gastrointestinal pathologies, it is imperative that Rectal Cancer be ruled out with routine screening tests so that early detection can occur.
