Tuesday, July 20, 2010

What are the symptoms of colon cancer


What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

Cancer - 4 Answers
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1 :
Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they'll likely vary, depending on the cancer's size and location in your large intestine. Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain Abdominal pain with a bowel movement A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely Weakness or fatigue Unexplained weight loss Blood in your stool may be a sign of cancer, but it can also indicate other conditions. Bright red blood you notice on bathroom tissue more commonly comes from hemorrhoids or minor tears (fissures) in your anus, for example. In addition, certain foods, such as beets or red licorice, can turn your stools red. Iron supplements and some anti-diarrheal medications may make stools black. Still, it's best to have any sign of blood or change in your stools checked promptly by your doctor because it can be a sign of something more serious
2 :
The symptoms are blood in your stools, changes in your bowel habits as in either diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, weight loss and tiredness, bloated feeling, nausea and vomiting or a lump or swollen area on the right side of your abdomen. However, these symptoms are associated with a number of other conditions too and so you should always consult a doctor and not automatically assume the worst - that its cancer. it could be something as simple as IBS
3 :
my mother in law had stage 3 cancer when she was diagnosed. She died less than 2 years after he diagnosis. Her main complaint was intense back pain that radiated down to her leg (the tumor was pressing on the siatic nerve) I've been told that leg numbness / pain and back pain are one of the tell a tale signs she also had extreme stomach cramps, pencil thin stools and blood in her stool. She also had the general cancer symtpoms - fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss
4 :
Colon Cancer Early Symptoms http://www.beating-cancer-gently.com/ Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases that affect our body's basic unit, the cell. When cancer occurs, the cells become abnormal and divide without any control or specific order. Normally, cells divide to produce new cells only when the body requires them. However, if cells continue dividing when new cells are not required, a mass of tissue forms. This mass of tissue, called a growth or tumor, can be benign or malignant. It is essential to note that benign tumors are not cancer while malignant tumors are cancer. Colon cancer or colorectal cancer, as the name suggests, affects the colon, a part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner walls of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps while malignant tumors are cancers. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant over time. Colorectal cancer can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. The spread of the colon cancer to distant organs is known as the metastasis of the colon cancer and once metastasis occurs, a complete cure is unlikely. http://www.cancertruth.info/ Detecting colon cancer through early symptoms help treatment The symptoms of colon cancer are numerous and non-specific. They include: Fatigue and weakness: The presence of a tumor causes anemia, iron deficiency that can make you feel extremely tired or lethargic. Shortness of breath Change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation: A tumor that is large enough to cause a bowel obstruction may lead to constipation, restrict blood flow and constipation. Any one or all the three of these underlying symptoms may also result in nausea and vomiting. Red or dark blood in stools: Tumors tend to bleed that may show up in your stool. If the tumor is in the beginning of the colon, the blood may be virtually invisible in the waste. However, if the tumor is in the rectum or toward the end of the colon, it may show up as bright red in the waste which is a clear sign of the cancer. Unexplained weight loss: Many of us would not want to understand why we are losing weight without any effort or reason. However, effortless weight loss is a sign that something is wrong. Unexplained weight loss could mean that the tumor is releasing chemicals that increase your metabolism. Bloating: A tumor that grows toward the end of the colon may cause a sense of fullness. The body senses the tumor as a stubborn piece of waste and you get that 'I still have to go' sensation that can't be relieved. Abdominal pain or cramps: Sometimes a tumor causes a bowel obstruction, which blocks the colon. Depending on the severity of the blockage, solids, liquids and even gas may be prevented from passing by, resulting in severe abdominal pain or cramps. Painful cramps indicate that a tumor has poked through the bowel wall, which can be a medical emergency. Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis and peptic ulcers have symptoms that are similar to colon cancer. Depending on where in the large bowel, the tumor is located the symptoms may vary accordingly. As the right colon is spacious, cancers of the right colon grow to large sizes before they cause abdominal pain. However, it is important to note that colon cancer can grow for years before showing any symptoms. The next best thing to colon cancer prevention is early diagnosis. When the colon cancer symptoms in a person are detected earlier on, they have a better chance of survival to someone who has already reached the far end of the disease. Leading a healthy lifestyle and making lifestyle changes can help prevent cancer. Research suggests that smoking cessation, decreased alcohol intake, maintenance of a healthy weight, exercise and dietary supplements help reduce the risk of colon cancer. Eat right, exercise regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle. God forbid, if you detect the aforementioned symptoms please consult a doctor immediately. Remember that 'Prevention is better than cure'. Healthy living is happy living! Other blog links Holistic Cancer Treatments and Complimentary Medicine Three Common Colon Cancer Treatments | Natural Remedies cures ... Colon cancer (also known as bowel cancer or colorectal cancer) is any cancer...   Read more... Genomic Health's Colon Cancer Dx Meets Prognostic, Not Predictive ... The resulting genes, comprising two s





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