Colon Cancer: Early Signs & Symptoms - What You Need to Know

Colon cancer is usually not detectable until it has reached an advanced stage. However, there are some early signs that should alert you to get a colon cancer screening.

Blood in Stool

• Bloody stool is a common sign of colon cancer. Keep track of what foods you eat to make sure something in your diet is not causing reddish stools. Beets are a common culprit.

Irregular Stool Size

• Thin or narrow stool may be a sign of an obstruction, such as a tumor, in your colon. Consult with a health care professional immediately if you produce ribbon-like stools during a bowel movement.

Constipation

• Although there may be many causes of constipation, chronic inability to produce stool may also be a symptom of colon cancer tumors.

Gas Pains

• Abdominal discomfort, commonly in the form of gas pain, occurs when tumors don't allow gas to exit the body through the colon.

Fatigue

• You may feel a general sense of fatigue for days at the onset of colon cancer due to the loss of blood during bowel movements. However, this is a vague symptom that could be caused by a variety of medical reasons.