Colon Cancer Warning Signs

In combination with a proper history, stool sample, and examination with your doctor the odds greatly sway to your favor of successful treatment.

Although not a fool proof method of determining colon cancer, the following warning signs of colon cancer can give you a heads up on proper diagnosis.

If any of these signs jump out as red flags talk to your doctor for a complete evaluation to rule out any irregularities.

Colon Cancer Warning Signs

- Narrower than normal stool size.

- Unknown change in stool consistency (diarrhea or constipation).

- Bowel obstruction (blockage).

- A constant feeling of having to empty your bowels but with little stool produced.

- A feeling of hardness in stomach region.

- Pain in bowel area.

- Bowel cramps lasting more than a few days.

- Bloating or fullness in stomach.

- Continuing gas pains.

- Weight loss for no apparent reason.

- Anemia (iron) from blood loss in to stool.

- Fatigue (longstanding).

Colon Cancer Risk Factors

- Being diagnosed with polyps.

- Inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

- Family history of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer.

- Age 50 or over.

If you have a family history of colon cancer from a first degree relative (parent, brother, sister, uncle, aunt or grandparent) you have a greater chance of contraction. A general rule of thumb is to get checked by your doctor 10 years before the age of their diagnosis.

This gap in time should give you plenty of heads up in case you have the beginning stages of colon cancer. For example if your uncle was diagnosed with colon cancer at 54, then a good age to start screening would be 44 years old.

Colon Cancer Statistics

- Is the second leading cause of death from cancer for both men and women.

- 90% of the people with colon cancer occur after the age of 50.

- 10% of those with ulcerative colitis (colon ulcers) will contract colon cancer.

If you have any symptoms of colon cancer it will usually not occur until its later stages. However, early testing through a proper history and examination by your doctor may help with early diagnosis.