Colon Cancer Detection: Recognizing Early Warning Signs & Symptoms

Approximately 150,000 people in the United States are diagnosed with colon cancer each year. Early detection of colon cancer can increase chances of survival and a healthy recovery. Here is how you identify the signs of colon cancer.

Instructions

• 1

  Constipation

  Colon cancer may show itself in the form of constipation that is easily mistaken for a much less serious problem. Most people have a regular bowel movement every day; having only a few a week may be a sign of a larger problem, such as colon cancer.

• 2

  Bloating and gas

  If the stomach is painfully bloated and gassy (as it often is with constipation) it may be a sign of colon cancer. If the pain from bloating and gas becomes sharp and painful, it may be due to cancerous colon tumors poking through the wall of the rectum. Intense stomach pain is always something that should be addressed immediately in a medical sense.

• 3

  Bloody stool

  One symptom of colon cancer is a bloody stool. If you ever experience this, note the color of your blood (red and fresh, or dark and dried) and see your doctor immediately.

• 4

  A feeling of fullness

  Colon cancer is often accompanied by a sensation of being full, or; needing to "go", that is sometimes due to a tumor in the rectum.

• 5

  Inconsistent bowel movements

  Being irregular is very easy to brush off, and a lot of these colon cancer symptoms are often mistaken for other, less severe stomach problems. If you are concerned about colon cancer, ask your doctor specifically to be tested.

• 6

  Fatigue, nausea, and unexplained weight loss

  If suddenly there is a feeling of total exhaustion and overall illness that is persistent, accompanied by the above symptoms, there is a chance that colon cancer is the culprit. Always see your doctor if you are experiencing these symptoms and are worried about colon cancer.