Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. And it occurs most often in people older than 50. With 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. When it is found early, it is easily treated and often cured. But because it usually is not found early, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Knowing what are the symptoms of colon cancer is very important because it is easily treated if it is found early. The key is to find it as early as possible.

The first symptoms of colon cancer are usually vague, like bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue (tiredness). Local (bowel) symptoms are rare until the tumor has grown to a large size. Generally, the nearer the tumor is to the anus, the more bowel symptoms there will be.

The cecum and ascending colon are on the right side of your abdomen. Cancer in this area may bleed, causing blood in the stool and symptoms of anemia, including fatigue and weakness. The amount of blood may be small and so well mixed with stool that your stool may look normal. The transverse colon goes across your body from right to left. Cancer here may cause abdominal cramps. The descending colon and the S-shaped sigmoid colon are on the left side of your abdomen and join the rectum. Cancer here may cause narrower stools and bright red blood in the stool.

The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 7%. Colorectal cancer can take many years to develop and early detection of colorectal cancer greatly improves the chances of a cure. If you or your doctor thinks you have colon cancer then you will need a test, called a colonoscopy, that lets the doctor see the inside of your entire colon and rectum. During this test, your doctor will remove polyps or take tissue samples from any areas that don’t look normal.

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This video with 23 ratings presents information about colon cancer as well as common symptoms.

This colon cancer related video start with brief explanation of cancer. Cancer is cell growth that is out of normal control. Colon cancer starts in colon wall, part of the digestive system. It typically arises from polyps in the colon wall and takes several years to grow into a cancer

There are common colon cancer symptoms:
1. change in bowel habits
2. may experience diarrhea or constipation
3. sensation of incomplete bowel movement; small, ribbon-like stools
4. blood in stool
5. fatigue/lack of energy from anemia
6. weight loss
7. abdominal distention/bloating

However, the symptoms of colon cancer are often vague and nonspecific. When the tumor is small, people often have no symptoms. Thus, a change in bowel habits, blood in stools or abdominal bloating should prompt people to see physician.

Colon cancer is a tricky disease. You can go without symptoms for many years until the disease has progressed into the later stages. However, just because this is possible does not mean you should not be on the look out for the signs and symptoms of colon cancer. Because when it is caught in time, you can completely recover from colon cancer. This is particularly why colon cancer screening is so important. However, there are many things you can keep an eye out for as well.

Bleeding

Rectal bleeding is a major sign of colon cancer. However, bleeding can be a sign of many other conditions such as hemorrhoids, fissures, the consumption of certain foods or iron supplements. Make sure to eliminate the possibility of these conditions before becoming overly concerned.

Pain

If you have pain in your lower abdomen, it could be a sign of colon cancer. Again, this can also be a sign of many other conditions, so it is important to see your doctor.

Change in Bowel Movements

A change in bowel movements is always a sign that something is amiss. It could be due to a change in diet, stress or some other factors, but again, see your doctor to find out for sure. This is especially the case when you have dramatic changes such as suddenly having watery stools, frequent stools, constipation or feeling as though your bowels have not entirely emptied.

Anemia

Sometimes, a sudden onset of anemia can be a sign of colon cancer. Visit your doctor to find out the cause.

Weight Loss

A sudden, dramatic or unexplained weight loss can be a sign of colon cancer. It is a somewhat rare symptom, so should definitely warrant immediate medical attention.

Abdominal Tenderness

Sometimes, the lower abdomen can be tender to the touch if you have colon cancer. It all depends on where the cancer is located in the colon, really.

Narrow Stools

If your stool suddenly appears thin or narrow, it may be a sign of colon cancer. This is especially the case if your stools become narrow all of a sudden. Stools typically take on a narrow appearance due to an obstruction in the bowels.

Fatigue

A sudden loss of energy can be a sign of many conditions, but it can also be a sign of colon cancer. If you feel run down and unable to function, it may be a good time to head off to the doctor.

Bloating

Again, bloating can be a sign of many conditions, but it is also indicative of colon cancer. You may simply feel bloated for no reason or your abdomen may be visibly distended. In either case, it is a good idea to have the condition checked out with your physician.

Shortness of Breath

As you may have gathered by now, symptoms of colon cancer can imitate many other conditions as well. If you feel out of breath often or feel as though you can not catch your breath, see your doctor.

So you see the common theme here? See your doctor! Symptoms of colon cancer can be sneaky and the key to successful treatment is early diagnosis. Do not risk it. If you feel “off” and exhibit any combination of the above symptoms, let your physician know about it.

By: Christy Berger
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The reasons for colon cancer symptoms are quite unpleasant. Tiny tumors develop along the walls of the gut, which causes seeping and bleeding. This may cause blood to be mixed with bowel movements. If carcinoid tumors grow large enough, then one’s belly may stick out and the stomach may hurt severely. In rare cases, the bowel may tear or contents of the bowel may leak into the pelvis area, causing inflammation, infection, weight loss and puking. If detected early thru a colonoscopy procedure, which should be done every ten years after 50, this threatening cancer is 93% treatable.

According to the American Cancer Society, the leading causes of colon cancer include colon polyps, cancer some place else in the body, Crohn’s illness, ulcerative colitis, a record of breast cancer or a family history of colon cancer. Researchers at the Howard Hughes Medical Center and John Hopkins Medical Center have identified a genetic link for cancer of the bowel, which is a defect in glycosylation enzymes. Other contributory elements include a unsuitable poor diet ( fat heavy, low-fiber, red meat-filled diets ) and smoking cigarettes. Also, 90% of people who have cancer of the bowel are over 50, which is when screening should begin.

Some of colon cancer symptoms arrive as intestinal pain in the lower stomach, bloody stools, gut rot, trots, irregular bowel movements, narrow stools, anemia and sudden weight loss. [**] colon cancer can be sensed before symptoms even happen, when it is usually treatable. Some colon cancer screening tests include a sigmoidoscopy, a fecal occult blood test, a fecal DNA test, a virtual colonoscopy and the standard colonoscopy. The Yank Cancer Society endorses beginning these tests at age 50, since ninety percent of cancer of the bowel is identified after this age.

If treatment of colon cancer symptoms isn’t sought, then the ramifications can be deadly. Metastatic colon cancer is the 3rd leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the U. S. , following breast/prostate cancer and lung cancer. What begins as safe abnormal cells called polyps can develop over the years into carcenogenic lymph nodes and tumors that travel throughout the body, spreading to other tissues and organs, slaughtering the host. Even if preliminary cancer is perceived and removed, there’s some chance of a colon cancer recurrence, so screenings will have to be done every couple of years.

About the Author:Harvey Hale writes frequently on topics related to Colon Cancer and other health issues. He updates regularly his site on Colon Cancer Symptoms. Keep yourself update with happening and latest information on Colon Cancer Symptoms here

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Don’t Ignore This Colon Cancer Symptoms

Colon cancer effects 7% of Americans and can be devastating. There is no known cure for colon cancer so early and frequent screening is necessary. The majority of cases begin as simple non-cancerous clusters of cells which are known as adenomatous polyps. While these polyps are benign, over time they can develop into colon cancers.

Adenomatous polyps themselves can be small and create very few or no symptoms at all. This is why screening is so important – once your doctor notes the presence of polyps he can remove them to prevent them turning cancerous.

But what if you have not had a screening? How do you recognize the symptoms of colon cancer? The first thing to note is that a lot of people with colorectal cancer have no symptoms at all in the disease’s early stages. When symptoms do appear they can vary greatly based on the cancer’s location and size.

There is no substitute for early detection, but if you have been unable to get to the doctor for screening, here are some things to look for:

1. Sudden and/or unexplained weight-loss.
2. A change in your bowel movements – look for anything that is changed from normal – a change in frequency, the consistency, persistent diarrhea or constipation any change that lasts more than two weeks and cannot be associated with another illness.
3. Extreme fatigue or weakness.
4. Not feeling able to completely empty your bowel.
5. Stomach discomfort including cramps, gas, and pain.
6. Bloody stool or bleeding from the rectum.

The fact is that most of the symptoms of colon cancer are also symptomatic of other problems so this is why it is necessary to see your doctor as soon as possible.

If it turns out you do not have cancer then you need to look into other causes for these symptoms. All of the symptoms above, except for unexplained weight loss and extreme fatigue are signs of an impacted intestinal system. If this is the case, it could be that you need to undertake a program of colon cleansing in concert with colonic irrigation to remove irritants from the bowel and allow a return of normal bowel function.

The best defense against colon cancer is regular screening and early detection. Your doctor can find and remove adenomatous polyps before they develop into cancer. If you have any bowel symptoms that you are unsure of, see your doctor immediately. Your bowel health is too important to take chances with.

If you require more colon cancer symptom information, please visit http://www.colon-cleaners.com.

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