When something goes wrong with the digestive system, it usually makes itself known pretty quickly, through pain or discomfort. Common problems are upset stomach, constipation, and diarrhea, which are usually not serious and don’t last long.
Unfortunately, colon or rectal cancer may generate few or no symptoms in the early stages. Colon cancer grows slowly, does not usually interfere with function in early stages, and can remain undetected for some time. This is bad news; by the time symptoms are noticeable, colon cancer may be advanced.
Many symptoms of colon cancer that do show up could be related to other digestive issues. If they are related to colon cancer, the disease could be advanced beyond early stages. Therefore, signs or symptoms of digestive problems that last more than a few weeks should be discussed with your doctor.
Possible symptoms of colon cancer include:
* a change from usual bowel habits and appearance, such as constipation, diarrhea, or extremely narrow stools, that lasts for 10 days or more
* bright red blood in the stools or black, tarry stools, which can be a sign of rectal or intestinal bleeding
* pain or tenderness in the lower abdomen that doesn’t go away
* bloating, cramps, or gas pains
* a feeling that the rectum isn’t completely empty after bowel movements
* loss of appetite and weight
* anemia, which can be a sign of blood loss from intestinal bleeding
* vomiting
* persistent fatigue, paleness, and heart palpitations, which can be signs of anemia
* inability to pass stools at all for more than a week. This can signal an intestinal blockage, which is an emergency situation.
Posted from John's Hopkins University
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