Early Signs of Colon Cancer

Your doctor can also inquire about your genetic history, perform bowel cultures, and other common tests to check for colon cancer.

The best defense is to get checked early before colon cancer can take hold and threaten your survival and quality of life.

The colon cancer warning signs can often lead to an early diagnosis, giving you ample time for successful treatment.

Once you become aware of any symptoms of colorectal cancer it is important to talk with your doctor and not ignore them. It will only make treatment that much harder when you eventually have to take care of it.

Early Signs of Colon Cancer

- Narrow stool size.

- Diarrhea or constipation for prolonged periods.

- Bowel obstructions.

- Having to release your bowels but nothing coming out.

- Fullness and hardness in stomach area.

- Having pain in bowel area.

- Cramped bowels.

- Stomach bloat or fullness.

- Gas pains.

- Weight loss from unknown cause.

- Anemia from blood loss in stools.

- Fatigue for an extended period of time.

Colon Cancer Causes

- Polyps (past history).

- Crohn’s disease.

- Ulcerative colitis.

- History of ovarian, breast, or uterine cancer amongst self and/or family members.

- Being 50 years old or greater.

Colon Cancer Symptoms

A good rule of thumb practiced by many doctors is to start screening 10 years before the age your family member was first diagnosed with colon cancer. An example… if your father was diagnosed at age 62, then it would be a good time to start screening at 52.

If diagnosed, the 10 years buys you extra time to start early treatment, ensuring better colon cancer survival statistics.