Cases of colon cancer are increasingly common in people aged 20-49 years. This cancer is the highest contributor to death, the reason is that there are still many people who are difficult to recognize the symptoms of this disease.
In fact, colon cancer has clear warning symptoms, if you can recognize it faster then this disease can be cured.
Detecting diseases as soon as possible is the key to treating disease. Therefore, the American Cancer Society recommends that everyone should have regular health checks at the age of 30 years.
As part of a physical exam, your doctor will carefully feel your abdomen and also examine the rest of your body.
You might also get certain blood tests to help determine if you might have colorectal cancer.
Check out some common signs of colon cancer you need to know:
1. There is blood in the stool
You don’t need to panic when blood appears in the stool. This condition can be caused by hemorrhoids or rectal fractures. However, if the bleeding is large and black or red for an extended period of time, you should seek medical attention immediately.
According to Lisa Ganjhu, professor of gastroenterology at NYU’s Langone Health Center, this is a sign that the large intestine has a problem, there could be a developing tumor.
Blood in the stool means there is bleeding somewhere in your digestive tract. Sometimes the amount of blood is so small that it can only be detected by a fecal occult test (which checks for hidden blood in the stool).
At other times it may visible on toilet tissue or in the toilet after a bowel movement as bright red blood. Bleeding that happens higher up in the digestive tract may make stool appear black and tarry.
Possible causes of blood in stool include:
Diverticular disease. Diverticula are small pouches that project from the colon wall. Usually diverticula don’t cause problems, but sometimes they can bleed or become infected.
Anal fissure: A small cut or tear in the tissue lining the anus similar to the cracks that occur in chapped lips or a paper cut. Fissures are often caused by passing a large, hard stool and can be painful.
2. Frequent constipation
Everyone tends to experience constipation. However, if the condition often occurs, this may be a sign that the large intestine is blocked.
According to Joseph Towman, head of gastrointestinal medicine at the Baylor School of Medicine, said that when stool reaches the tip of the large intestine and has difficulty getting out it could be blocked by tumors.
How often you poop per day varies from person to person. Some people might go up to three times a day, while others only have a bowel movement a few times a week.
Constipation happens when your colon absorbs too much water or the muscles contract too slowly or poorly, which means stool moves through your digestive system too slowly. When the stool loses too much water, it hardens.
If the faeces sit in your colon for three days or longer, the mass becomes even harder and more difficult to pass.
3. Stomach cramps often
Rusha Modi, MD, a gastroenterologist and assistant professor of clinical medicine at Keck Medical Center in California, said that abdominal cramps often occur when colon cancer occurs, usually stomach cramps are accompanied by a number of other symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea and gastroesophageal reflux.
Most people usually notice only a bulge at the site of the hernia. Sometimes the hernia appears only with lifting, coughing, or straining.
There is usually little or no discomfort, and the bulge can be pushed back in (reduced) by the person or a doctor.
A strangulated hernia causes steady, gradually increasing pain, typically with nausea and vomiting, cannot be reduced, and is tender when touched.
Diagnosis:
- A doctor’s examination
- Sometimes imaging tests
Doctors base the diagnosis of hernias mainly on an examination. Lumps in the groin that resemble hernias may be swollen lymph nodes or undescended testes.
Sometimes the doctor does ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT) to help make the diagnosis.
4. Continuous gastric reflux
If this happens frequently and is not relieved after taking the medicine, you should go to the doctor for an examination.
Common signs and symptoms of GERD include:
- A burning sensation in your chest (heartburn), usually after eating, which might be worse at night
- Chest pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Regurgitation of food or sour liquid
- Sensation of a lump in your throat
If you have nighttime acid reflux, you might also experience:
- Chronic cough
- Laryngitis
- New or worsening asthma
- Disrupted sleep
When to see a doctor
Seek immediate medical care if you have chest pain, especially if you also have shortness of breath, or jaw or arm pain. These may be signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you:
- Experience severe or frequent GERD symptoms
- Take over-the-counter medications for heartburn more than twice a week
