What Are the Early Warning Signs of Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is the second biggest cause of cancer-associated death. Much awareness has been generated among people about it and the importance of preventive cancer screenings. Earlier, many people below the age of 50 used to be diagnosed with this type of cancer. 

But today, according to studies, this cancer is rising in people belonging to the 20 to 49-year-old age group. It’s important to get treatment for colorectal cancer from a reliable facility that uses advanced technology and treatment methodologies like robotic surgery. 

Such a facility also specializes in performing surgery for advanced cancer like partial colectomy and colostomy. Given below are the early warning signs of the onset of this condition.

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer refers to a malignant tumor. It arises from the large intestine’s inner wall, also called the rectum or colon. Common risk factors for this kind of cancer include a rise in age. 

Other factors comprise a family history of this cancer, long-standing ulcerative colitis, and colon polyps. In most cases, this cancer develops from polyps. So, eliminating colon polyps can lead to its prevention. 

Early-stage colon cancer and colon polyps will exhibit no cancer-specific early symptoms. Thus, you must have timely colon cancer screenings. 

Warning Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

To beat cancer, you must notice its early warning signs. When you are aware of them, you can consult a gastroenterologist and begin the treatment. Some symptoms that you must be mindful of include the following:

• Bright red rectal bleeding – Be aware of red-colored bleeding or tarry stools. They signal the presence of blood. 
• Consistent stomach pain – People usually feel persistent pain in the stomach area and bloating.
• Changes in bowel habits include constipation, a change in the consistency of stool, or its narrowing.
• Tenesmus – It’s a feeling of still having to go after you’ve already passed a bowel movement. You feel like your bowel movement was incomplete. 
• Unexpected weight loss – If you lose weight unintentionally, along with the above symptoms, it’s a sign of cancer.
• Weakness – Anemia from an iron deficiency is also an early warning sign.

Most people do not showcase any symptoms in the early cancer stages. So, it is vital to get screened, especially after you hit 45. 

Due to advanced techniques like surgery and laparoscopic surgery, colorectal cancer prognosis has improved dramatically. Chemotherapy or radiotherapy also contribute positively to improved prognosis.

Stages of Colon Cancer

When this cancer is diagnosed, more tests are conducted to find the extent of cancer. It’s called staging. Through it, doctors can discover how advanced cancer has turned. There are four stages of colon cancer.

• Stage I colon cancers are isolated to only the colon’s innermost layers. The chances of a cure for this stage are over 90 percent. 
• Stage II cancers show more growth and the tumor’s extension through the colon’s wall into adjacent structures. 
• In stage III, cancer spreads to local lymph nodes.
• In stage IV, cancer spreads to organs that are far away from the place of the initial tumor. 

Every succeeding stage of this cancer increases the risk of death and recurrent cancer because of its spread. It is wise to always get yourself treated by a reputable colorectal cancer center that has experts specializing in high-precision techniques. 

These include Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy and Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy. Such treatments are helpful at correctly targeting the tumor and preventing tissue injury.