When any gastrointestinal symptom shows up, it can disrupt your life and cause worry. It’s important to understand what’s causing your symptoms in case it’s a serious condition like colon cancer.
Colon cancer usually doesn’t have symptoms right away because it’s a slow-growing cancer. Still, it’s important to know the signs so that you can be aware of them and visit your gastroenterologist to figure out the root cause of your symptoms.
Due to its slow growth, colon cancer may not have symptoms right away. If it does, one or more of these symptoms may be present:
Colon cancers are often accompanied by bleeding in the digestive tract. This sometimes shows up in the stool or makes the stool look darker. Even with bleeding, the stool often looks normal. Over time, the blood loss can lead to anemia (low red blood cell counts). Sometimes colon cancer is found during a blood test that indicates anemia.
When colon cancer spreads, it affects organs other than the colon. Colon cancer can result in an enlarged liver, which can be found during an exam. Patients with an enlarged liver may also have jaundice that appears as yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes. Trouble breathing can indicate cancer has spread to the lungs.
It’s important to remember that conditions other than colon cancer can cause these symptoms. These conditions include infection, hemorrhoids, or irritable bowel syndrome.
If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor right away. They will be able to find the underlying cause of the issues you’re having and treat it. Your doctor may recommend a colonoscopy, which is the gold-standard procedure to test for colon cancer.
During a colonoscopy, your doctor will examine your colon for polyps and lesions in the colon wall. If your doctor finds polyps, they will painlessly remove them. If they’re not removed during a colonoscopy, polyps have a chance to turn into cancer.
Even if you don’t have any symptoms, you may need a colonoscopy anyway. If you’re over 45 and you’ve never had a colonoscopy or if you’re under 45 and you have an elevated risk of developing colon cancer, it’s time for a colonoscopy. Schedule your colonoscopy today.
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