Colon cancer is among those types of cancer that can be prevented and treatable with success if found in its early stages of development. This kind of cancer will not evolve out of a sudden, showing some signs first, before ending up in a stage that can be life threatening. A periodic medical check for this purpose is more than welcomed because none of us is entirely safe when it comes to colon cancer. The foods available on the market today, highly processed and filled with chemicals, can always trigger problems in our digestive system, including cancers. So here is what you need to know in order to be safe.

Colon cancer early symptoms

The most positive part regarding colon cancer, if we may call it like this, is that there are some early warning signs before the illness begins. If these early signs are discovered during a medical inspection, proper measures can be taken to prevent colon cancer from occurring. They can be easily detected during a colon screening. Although, there are cases in which this type of cancer can start without a warning, this is why getting periodic screening is important. Some of the signs are:

  1. Changes in how your bowel is working, like diarrhea, constipation or incontinence, which usually last for several days in a row.
  2. The feeling that a bowel movement is approaching, although you won’t find any relief.
  3. Bleeding from your rectum.
  4. The presence of blood in your stool, which will give it a darker color.
  5. Pain or cramps in the abdomen area.
  6. Anemia, accompanied by fatigue and weakness.
  7. Weight loss that occurs without intention or dieting.

You don’t have to get alarmed from the first moment you have these symptoms because they will not necessarily indicate that you have colon cancer. The symptoms are similar to indigestions, the beginning of an ulcer, or other digestive issues. But this is why you need to get checked, so that the possibility of cancer is ruled out and that you will receive the best treatment for your condition. Also, during screening, small polyps can be discovered on the colon, which are usually benign. Still, in this case, extra precaution must be taken, even removing the polyps, if the doctor considers it appropriate, as these formations can turn into cancer, under some circumstances.

Colon cancer stages

Doctors use different stage systems to describe the evolution of colon cancer in the body. According to these stages, the treatment is also made. Once a suspect formation is found in the colon, frequent screenings are needed to see if the stages modify and if the treatment is working. Here are the most general staging systems used for this purpose:

  1. Stage T, or Tumor, concerning the location of the potential tumor and its size.
  2. Stage N, or Node, in which the tumor can spread to the lymph nodes. If yes, how many and where it is spreading.
  3. Stage M, or Metastasis, concerning the potential metastasis of the tumor in the body. If it happened, where it happened and in what degree.

Each of these stages is noted using the corresponding letter, plus a number from 0 to 4, according to the findings of the doctors, after detailed medical tests. It is important for the situation to be analyzed correctly, so that the treatment is chosen appropriately. Some doctors may use the G system, or grade, meaning the stages will have the letter G and a number, from 0 to 4, according to the severity of the analysis. The cells will be watched under the microscope, and a comparison will be made between the found cells and how a healthy cell should look like.

Symptoms of colon cancer in women

Because women are different from men, their bodies also work differently, so there might be some symptoms that will indicate something is wrong, which men won’t have. Thus, women may experience:

  1. Lumps or bumps in the abdomen area.
  2. A constant bloating sensation.
  3. Anemia, even if you are an extremely active person and eat a lot of proteins.
  4. Irregular bowel movements.
  5. Constipation and the inability to find any relief.
  6. Feelings of extreme fatigue and weakness.
  7. Abdominal cramps and bleeding from the rectum.

 

Symptoms of colon cancer in men

Men should also pay attention to some symptoms that might manifest in their case. You don’t have to get all the symptoms since only one should be enough to get you see a doctor about it. Here are some symptoms that may show up in the case of men:

  1. The stool is red, black or even purple, which may indicate that there is blood in it.
  2. A change in bowel movement, like going to the bathroom more often or more rarely.
  3. Abdominal pains and weight loss.
  4. A loss of appetite.
  5. Constant fatigue and feeling weak.

Again, there is no need to panic if you have any of these symptoms. There are other health issues that can happen, besides colon cancer. Also, do not hesitate to look back into the toilet, after finishing number two. It is not a shame, and it is actually an excellent way to check on your health. At least this is what you can do to make sure anything works properly. If you find anything suspicious, or you have signs concerning your health that are not present normally, do get checked. You can survive colon cancer if it is discovered in a timely manner, with the help of medical tests.