Colon Cancer Symptoms

17 Jan 2012 at 10:21

jodi

Colon Cancer, Symptoms

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You can recognize all the symptoms experienced by most of the colon cancer patients, but a visit to the the doctor can only make sure if you have this chronic disease. Symptoms of the colon cancer might not be detected in the early stages as colon cancer grows undetected for many years. Moreover many symptoms associated with the bowel cancer can also be related to other health diseases. The symptoms may also differ depending on the size and location of the cancer in the colon. However there are number of symptoms attributed to the colon cancer.

  • Skinny excretion from the digestive system for a period longer than two weeks
  • Continuous stomach ache, constipation, nausea and vomiting for over two weeks
  • Glossy blood on your feces
  • Loss of body weight without any known reasons
  • Changes in your feces routine
  • Perceiving that you abdomen does not empty completely

There are some steps you need to take immediately after the occurrence of any of these above mentioned symptoms.

Consulting a doctor and having a detailed discussion regarding the changes you are going through.

Do not delay in having a screening test for colon cancer, if recommended by the doctor.

If you are experiencing symptoms like blood in stools and dark (black) stools, you should insist on having a colonoscopy. There are numerous cases of colon cancer in which these two symptoms appeared but were assumed as minor digestion problem by the doctors.

Early signs of colon cancer

The most initial symptoms of colon cancer are rectal bleeding and constant constipation due to the obstruction of colon. This obstruction also causes thin stools as the undigested wastes pass through the tumor before excretion.

Metastatic Colon Cancer Symptoms

In colon cancer when the cancerous cells move to the other organs including liver, lungs and bones it is termed as metastatic.

This advancement of the cancer to the liver includes symptoms like pale skin,  swelling and pain in the abdominal area, loss of weight, lack of appetite, nausea and sickness. The size of the live may increase (hepatomegaly) due to numerous cancerous cells that have reached the liver. A fluid (ascites) may also be present in the live due to metastatic colon cancer. Jaundice can also be caused because of the travel of cancer to the liver which can result in yellow skin and eyes along with itching problems.

When the cancer has reached to the lungs one might experience chest pains , cough and blood in spits and exhaustion or shortness of breath.

In colon cancer the cancerous cells rarely advance to the bones, but it occurs when the cancer has attained the most advanced stage and its spread is wide. Pain, broken and fragile bones are indication of this advancement of cancer.

Causes Of Colon Cancer Symptoms

As large intestine is an empty muscular tube , so the cancerous polyps in the intestine might partially block it causing thin stools. Due to the entire blockage of colon, because of cancerous growth you might experience abdominal pain, vomiting and afterwards complete constipation. Surgical treatment is necessary in this scenario.The presence of polyps in the colon is responsible for rectal bleeding or the blood in stools. The cancerous cells inside the colon utilize the blood and nutrients from the food you consume and this utilization can not be detected easily and for the same reason one feels extremely tired and exhausted. The cancerous cells in the large intestine also give rise to the feeling of fullness and you seldom feel hungry resulting in loss of appetite.

Understanding Signs Of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer could be existing for quite a while before any colon cancer symptoms appear.The symptoms vary according to the position of cancerous cells in the large bowel.The right side of the colon is bigger and the cancerous cells on the right grow large in number before the occurrence of any symptoms.. Typically, right-sided malignancies cause anemia as a result of the sluggish loss of bloodstream over the longer period of time. Iron deficiency anemia leads to tiredness, weakness, and difficulty in breathing. The left side of digestive tract is narrow compared to the right digestive tract. Therefore, cancer cells on the left intestinal tract are usually more likely to trigger incomplete or even full colon obstruction. Cancer creating partial colon impediment may cause signs of bowel problems, thin stools, diarrhoea, abdominal aches and aches, cramps, and also bloatedness. Vibrant red blood vessels in the feces could also indicate cancer growth at the end of the colon.

Colon Cancer

17 Jan 2012 at 10:16

jodi

Colon Cancer

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Colon in the human body is like a muscular tube about five feet long and about three inches in width that carries the food wastes through large intestine for excretion through the anus, the end part of the colon is known as rectum and the tumor that starts in rectum is called rectal  or colorectal cancer, whereas the tumor of large intestine is commonly known as colon or bowel cancer. Water and electrolytes are absorbed by right side of the colon and left side is used for the stash and excretion. Colon cancer originates from the formation of non cancerous cells in the inner most lining of colon, these abnormal size cells are  known as polyps, after a period of 8 to 10 years some of these polyps turn cancerous causing  colon cancer .The colon cancer arises mainly because of the wastes and toxicants that stay in a colon for a longer time period giving rise to the formation of polyps. If these polyps turn into cancerous cells and are still undetected and untreated then the cancer starts spreading from the innermost layer of colon to the external layers and to the other organs near colon like liver and lungs. There are five stages of colon cancer depending on the growth and expansion of the cancer in the body. The earlier the stage of cancer, brighter are the chances of recovery. In United States the people  getting affected from colon cancer each year has a very high ratio and its one of the  major causes of death, but in the last five years the death toll from colon cancer has decreased due to better diagnosis and treatment methods. When you cross 50 years of age colonoscopy is highly recommended after  every 10 years , whereas annual fecal occult blood tests are recommended and sigmoidoscopy should be conducted after every 5 years.

The probability of colon cancer development is higher for both men and women, when they cross fifty years of age. As people age the  tissues comprising the colon wall become weak and are more vulnerable to the formation of polyps.  Other than age having family history of colon cancer is another risk factor for colon cancer. Therefore regular tests for diagnosis of colon cancer are highly recommended for aged and for people with family history of colon cancer.  Diet (low fiber and high in fats) and lifestyle (smoking,drinking and physically inactive) are two important factors that can increase the colon cancer risk.  There are certain diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s diseases, ulcerative colitis) and diverticulitis which can result in colon cancer after existing in a person for a long time. All the bowel related diseases almost show the same symptoms as colon cancer. The screening tests for colon cancer on frequent basis are highly recommended for the patients suffering from the above mentioned diseases. Another condition which is considered as a risk factor for colorectal cancer is obesity.

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