| Colon cancer often exhibits the same symptoms | | | | or the rectum. Go and see your doctor if you |
| as other colon conditions. Crohn's disease, irritable | | | | develop any of the following symptoms of colon |
| bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, | | | | cancer mentioned above. However, don't panic |
| and peptic ulcer disease show the same | | | | just yet. As mentioned, some of the symptoms |
| symptoms of colon cancer: red or dark blood in | | | | can be indicative of another colon disease |
| stools, changes in bowel habits, narrow stools, | | | | altogether. For example, while blood in your stool |
| diarrhea or constipation, unexplainable weight loss, | | | | may be one of the symptoms of colon cancer, it |
| abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, and anemia. In | | | | may also come from hemorrhoids or minor tears |
| order to observe your symptoms better, it is | | | | in your anus. If you are constipated as a result of |
| also important to read up on other colon diseases. | | | | not drinking enough water and not taking in |
| The disease can be present for many years | | | | sufficient fiber, tough stools may scratch your |
| before symptoms of colon cancer even show. | | | | rectal wall. |
| This is why the best thing to do to watch out for | | | | Additionally, certain foods, such as beets and red |
| colon cancer is to undergo regular screenings, | | | | licorice, can cause your stools to turn red, while |
| preferably those that entail fecal blood testing and | | | | iron supplements and some anti-diarrhea |
| colonoscopy. | | | | medications often make stools black. However, it |
| Symptoms of colon cancer vary according to | | | | is still a good idea to visit your doctor at any sign |
| where the tumor is located. Because the right | | | | of blood or other changes in your stools and |
| colon is spacious, tumors in the right colon can | | | | bowel movement. After all, early detection based |
| grow to large sizes before they even cause | | | | on symptoms of colon cancer usually result in |
| symptoms of colon cancer. As tumors have a | | | | complete cures. |
| tendency to bleed, cancers on the right colon | | | | Below is a complete list of the top symptoms of |
| cause iron deficiency anemia because of the slow, | | | | colon cancer. It will do no harm to visit your |
| unnoticed loss of blood over a long period of time. | | | | doctor as soon as you feel two or more of the |
| It is all the more unnoticeable because the stool | | | | following: |
| travels through the colon longer, so whatever | | | | * Major change in your toilet habits, whether you |
| blood is in the stool dries up and even becomes | | | | move your bowels more or less |
| invisible. Iron deficiency anemia, in turn, results in | | | | * Blood in your fecal matter, bright red or dried |
| fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath for | | | | * Stools that are thinner than usual |
| patients. | | | | * Unexplainable dramatic weight loss |
| On the other hand, the left colon is narrower than | | | | * Stomach pains, cramping or bloating |
| the right colon. Cancers of the left colon are more | | | | * Unexplainable fatigue |
| likely to cause partial or complete bowel | | | | * Always feeling like you need to move your |
| obstruction. This type of cancer causes the | | | | bowels |
| following symptoms of colon cancer: diarrhea, | | | | * Constant nausea and vomiting |
| constipation, narrow stools, abdominal pains, | | | | * Iron deficiency anemia |
| cramps, and bloating. If there is bright red blood in | | | | * Abdominal pain, which is a rare symptom of |
| the stool, this can also mean that there is a | | | | colon cancer, and may exhibit itself as mere |
| cancerous growth near the end of the left colon | | | | tenderness in the abdomen. |