Early Warning Signs Of Colon Cancer You Should Not Ignore

Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away. In fact, many of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can also be caused by other problems, such as infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease.

It’s important to get checked if you have any of following problems. In many cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. But you should talk to your doctor if you have any of them so the cause can be found and treated.

• 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 is not relieved by having one
• Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
• Blood in the stool, which might make it look dark brown or black
• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
• Weakness and fatigue
• Losing weight without trying

Often colorectal cancer doesn’t cause symptoms until it has grown or spread. That’s why it’s best to be tested for colorectal cancer before ever having any symptoms. Colorectal cancer that’s found early through screening, before you have symptoms, might be easier to treat. Screening can even prevent some colorectal cancers by finding and removing pre-cancerous growths called polyps.

• Colonoscopy:  A colonoscopy is a test where a thin tube with a light on the end is put through the anus, into the rectum and colon to look closely at the inside. If any abnormal lump (mass) or growth
  (polyp) is found, a piece of it can be taken (a biopsy) and checked in the lab for cancer cells.
• Biopsy: During a biopsy, the doctor takes out a small piece of tissue where the cancer might be. The tissue is checked for cancer cells. This is the best way to know if you have cancer.    
• CT or CAT scan: A CT scan is like an x-ray, but the pictures of your insides are more detailed. CT scans can also be used to help do a biopsy and can show if the cancer has spread.
• Ultrasound: For this test, a small wand is moved around on your skin. It gives off sound waves and picks up the echoes as they bounce off tissues. The echoes are made into a picture on a computer screen. It’s used to help find cancer and see if it has spread.
• Gene and protein tests: The cancer cells in the biopsy tissue might be tested for genes or proteins such as KRAS, BRAF, MMR and MSI. Knowing which genes or proteins your cancer has can help the doctor decide if treatments like targeted therapy or immunotherapy might help.

Other tests, such as MRI scans, x-rays and blood tests may also be done to look at how big the cancer is and whether it has spread.

https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/signs-and-symptoms-of-colon-cancer.html