Most people who are eventually diagnosed with bowel cancer have one of the following combinations of symptoms: a persistent change in bowel habit that causes them to go to the toilet more often and pass looser stools, usually together with blood on or in their stools.
Stool from Colon Cancer does not always have a "typical" appearance, and stool color will depend on how advanced your Cancer has become and what nutrients you may be lacking in your Colon, resulting in constipation, diarrhea, or neither.
Change in shape
Thin stools are a sign of colon cancer. Any time you notice a narrow or ribbon-like stool, it indicates changes in your colon.
The two most common bowel problems for people with cancer are diarrhoea and constipation. But people with cancer might also have problems with bowel blockages or passing wind.
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer? Diarrhea, constipation and abdominal pain are all symptoms of colorectal cancer. However, there are additional symptoms that are more concerning. “Sudden and unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool are all cause for concern,” says Richards.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool.
Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away, but if it does, it may cause one or more of these symptoms: A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days.
Stage I Colon Cancer is a tumor that affects the inner layer of the colon. Stage I Colon Cancer symptoms include stomach pain, diarrhea and weight loss.
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. If there are symptoms, the following may indicate colon cancer: Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen.
"Overall, any change in bowel habit, such as diarrhea, can be a sign of colon cancer. Diarrhea can be either a secretory process (the tumor leaks fluid) or from partial obstruction and overflow around the tumor. Sudden constipation or difficulty passing stool along with bleeding are seen more commonly.
Colon cancer can cause bleeding in the digestive tract and make your stool a dark brown, maroon, or black.
While in many cases, there are no obvious symptoms with colon cancer, there are some that can be warning signs and should be discussed with your physician. These include: Any major change in bowel habits. Blood in the stool that is either bright red, black or tarry.
During stage 1 of colon cancer, no obvious signs or symptoms may have developed. As symptoms develop, they may vary depending on the tumor's size and location in the large intestine. Early symptoms may affect only the colon and result in changes in bowel habits.
Colon cancer is typically slow-growing, starting as a benign polyp that eventually becomes malignant. This process may occur over many years without producing any symptoms. Once colon cancer has developed, it may still be years before it is detected.
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and abdominal (tummy) pain.
Unexplained Weight Loss
Sudden weight loss is often a symptom of several types of cancer, including colon cancer. Unintentional weight loss is the loss of 10 pounds or more in six months or less without knowing the reason. Colorectal cancer can lead to unexplained weight loss in a variety of ways.
Several studies reported that weight gain after diagnosis is common among CRC patients [1–3, 10, 11]. All these studies showed that weight gain after diagnosis was more common than weight loss after diagnosis [1–3, 10, 11].
There is no way to know for sure, but a good sign of colon health is having regular bowel movements that are easy to pass, soft but formed, and snake-like. It is not necessary to have a bowel movement every day. The quality of each bowel movement is more important than the frequency.
Chronic diarrhea is a frequent symptom among colorectal cancer patients, both during and after treatment for the disease. Chronic diarrhea is the frequent passage of loose stools (>3 unformed stools and/or a volume of stool >200 g in 24 hours) with urgency and duration of more than 4 weeks.
Both irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and colorectal cancers are possible culprits, but they're sometimes confused because of their similar symptoms. The main difference? While both may result in abdominal discomfort, colon cancer is often accompanied by fatigue, bloody stool, and/or unexplained weight loss as well.
Diarrhea can also be a symptom of the cancer itself. Cancer that affects the pancreas, colorectal cancer, and neuroendocrine tumors in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract can all cause diarrhea. Conditions and medication not related to cancer can also cause diarrhea.