Symptoms of colorectal Cancer
Common symptoms of colon and rectal cancer include various bowel dysfunctions, such as abdominal pain, constipation, alternating diarrhea, and difficulty passing stool. Patients may also experience a persistent urge to evacuate the bowels (tenesmus), scanty stools containing mucus, or abdominal bloating and cramping.
Summary: symptoms of colorectal cancer
Early-stage colorectal cancer often causes few or minor symptoms.
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Typical early symptoms include changes in bowel habits, such as abdominal pain, constipation or diarrhea, bloating, and gas.
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Blood in the stool.
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A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, or a bowel obstruction.
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A persistent urge to empty the bowels (tenesmus), scanty stools containing mucus, or abdominal bloating and cramping.
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Stool color that is unusually light or dark.
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If there is a lasting change in your bowel habits, it is always important to seek medical attention.
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Please note that colorectal cancer can also remain completely asymptomatic (without symptoms) for a long time.
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Anemia is a common symptom of colorectal cancer
Colon cancer, and particularly rectal cancer, often causes blood to appear in the stool. For this reason, anemia is also a common symptom of colorectal cancer. Sometimes, the cancer can cause a bowel obstruction, which leads to vomiting, difficulty passing stool, and severe abdominal pain. In such cases, urgent surgical treatment is required.
Colorectal cancer symptoms develop gradually over years
Because the symptoms associated with colorectal cancer develop gradually—and similar minor ailments may have occurred years prior—people often do not recognize them as serious, which delays seeking medical help. According to reports, nine out of ten people find the symptoms embarrassing, which is why a fifth of patients only see a doctor once the disease has already spread.
Seek medical evaluation if:
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There is blood in your stool Blood in the stool is always a reason to seek medical evaluation. Red or black stool indicates bleeding. Bright red blood usually comes from the lower part of the bowel, which can indicate hemorrhoids or a tumor. Black stool can be a sign of bleeding higher up in the digestive tract.
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A change in bowel habits does not pass A normal bowel movement frequency varies from person to person, but if you constantly need to use the bathroom more than three times a day, it is a good idea to investigate the cause. Constipation that persists for weeks should also be taken seriously. However, temporary changes in bowel habits are common, and a change lasting just a couple of days is no cause for alarm.
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The color or consistency of your stool is unusual for an extended period Normal stool is typically a solid, brownish-yellow log. Pencil-thin or ribbon-like stool can indicate an obstruction in the intestine. A persistent light, greenish, or grayish stool color should be investigated. Please note that iron supplements, salty licorice (salmiakki), and blueberries can turn stool black, while beets can turn it red.
Watch the video on symptoms that may indicate colorectal cancer.