Constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain can all be symptoms of colorectal cancer. But they can also be signs of other conditions, including Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome and even a stomach virus.
If early-stage colorectal cancer does cause symptoms, early warning signs may include sudden weight loss and/or narrow, ribbon-like stools. Other common early warning signs of colorectal cancer include: Rectal bleeding, either bright or dark red in color. Narrow stools.
Signs and symptoms
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), changes in bowel habit – such as more frequent, looser stools – and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common and most people with them do not have bowel cancer.
Lenhart said, colon cancer patients describe symptoms including gastrointestinal bleeding, bowel obstruction, nausea, weight loss and constipation or diarrhea. “Polyps and early cancer can often be asymptomatic,” she said. “The point is to be able to detect things early. Not all patients are going to have GI symptoms.”
Rectal bleeding is the most obvious colon cancer symptom, but there are other, more subtle signs, like learning you're anemic. It may be the first sign that you're bleeding internally. Other signs are you can't catch your breath, you feel bloated or crampy and you have severe constipation.
Sometimes, a tumour can block the bowel, causing sudden strong pains in the stomach area, bloating and feeling or being sick. This is called a bowel obstruction. You may also be unable to empty your bowels or pass wind.
Persistent abdominal discomfort
You may also feel full, bloated, or like your bowel is not completely empty. Nausea and vomiting can also be symptoms.
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.
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 most common tumor marker for colorectal cancer is carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Blood tests for this tumor marker can sometimes suggest someone might have colorectal cancer, but they can't be used alone to screen for or diagnose cancer.
Sometimes colon cancer can cause fatigue due to internal blood loss from the disease. In many cases, the symptoms of colon cancer are connected. Other colon cancer symptoms, such as unintentional weight loss and a change in bowel habits, can increase the feeling of weakness.
Main symptoms of bowel cancer
changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you. needing to poo more or less often than usual for you. blood in your poo, which may look red or black. bleeding from your bottom.
Age. The risk of colorectal cancer increases as people get older. Colorectal cancer can occur in young adults and teenagers, but the majority of colorectal cancers occur in people older than 50. For colon cancer, the average age at the time of diagnosis for men is 68 and for women is 72.
Colon cancer can cause changes in the color, consistency, and frequency of your poop. These changes can include blood in the stool, narrow stools, more frequent bowel movements, and diarrhea. In advanced stages, poop may become black and tarry.
Pantel says, “you should get checked out if you have rectal bleeding, if you have any change in your bowel habits, any change in appetite (like feeling “full” early), weight loss, or abdominal pain that is not explained.” Your symptoms may be different than those of someone you know who had colorectal cancer.
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. A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that's not relieved by having one.
In most cases, colon and rectal cancers grow slowly over many years.
Abdominal symptoms such as pain, bloating or rectal bleeding are often signs of an abnormal process in the left side of your colon. “Right-sided colon cancers tend to be asymptomatic or cause these symptoms only when they are at an advanced stage and fairly large.
Stool tests.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).
Usually, it comes on suddenly, does not result from activity or exertion, and is not relieved by rest or sleep. It is often described as "paralyzing" and may continue even after treatment is complete. In addition to fatigue, weight loss and decreased appetite are common in people being treated for colorectal cancer.
Though not as common, a person may experience excessive smelly gas due to the presence of cancer of the colon. Cancerous polyps or tumors can form blockages that cause gas to build up in the intestine. One early warning sign is when changes in diet or medication do not stop foul-smelling gas from occurring.
There are many common conditions that can affect the health of our bowels, and many have symptoms similar to bowel cancer. These conditions include (but aren't limited to) piles (haemorrhoids), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), diverticular disease, and diarrhoea.