Colon Cancer Symptoms

The second biggest cause of death in the Western World is cancer, manifesting itself in various forms in different and sensitive parts of the human body. Cancerous cells begin as processes which will eventually see them grow out of control. These are abnormal cells which have become cancerous.

Cancer of the colon, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the Western World comes in a few forms, predominately in the form of colon carcinoma. If diagnosed early it can be treated fairly easily. If the cancer, that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon), is allowed to spread it can prove fatal in 40% of the cases detected.

As in all other forms of cancer, the medical profession is unable to pinpoint a specific cause for cancer of the colon. People who fall into a higher risk category are those:

Currently suffering from cancer in another form.
Have suffered from cancer in the past,
Have a family history of colon cancer.
Someone who show signs of genetic syndromes particular to cancer sufferers.
Have eaten a lot of red meat as well as a higher than average consumption of high fat and low fiber food
People who have not yet undergone a colonoscopy and have reached the age of 50

In the very early stages of the disease, the symptoms of colorectal cancers are hard to detect. The reason is the cancerous cells in the colon or the rectum grow and multiply really slowly. The symptoms only really show once the disease is beginning to spread through the sufferer's rectal region.

The first and most prominent symptoms are:

Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or signs of blood in the stool.
Anemia
Tenderness and pain in the lower abdomen
A feeling of blockage in the intestines.
A sudden and inexplicable weight loss.
Bowel movements that are uncommonly narrow

These are the symptoms that should eventually bring the patient to their doctor for advice and colon cancer treatment. A colonoscopy will be ordered by the doctor treating the case. This treatment will be able to confirm that there are indeed cancerous cells in the colon and how far have they spread. Ultimately the patient will have to undergo surgery, to removed all or part of the infected colon and some of the tissue surrounding it.

In most cases, the colon cancer sufferer will have to go through a long and uncomfortable chemotherapy treatment course, after the surgical treatment has been completed.

Cancer