colon cancer symptoms

What are colon cancer symptoms? Colon cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the colon grow out of control. The cancer cells can develop into tumors that invade neighboring organs, leading to more advanced stages of the disease. Colon cancers usually start as benign polyps that turn into cancer over time.

Colon cancer symptoms depend on how advanced the tumor is and where it's located. If you have any of these symptoms - chronic constipation, abdominal pain or discomfort, unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool or on toilet paper, change in bowel habits - go see your doctor to talk about possible colon cancer treatment options.

Abdominal pain, Constipation or diarrhea, Blood in the stool, Nausea or vomiting, changes in bowel habits, loss of appetite, Fatigue, Weight loss, Unexplained bleeding from the rectum, Anemia, Abnormal growths on the colon, Jaundice, Changes in bowel habits, unexplained weight loss, Back pain, Rectal bleeding, Weakness, Fever, Persistent cough, Chest pain, Shortness of breath, Hoarseness of voice, Loss of strength, Coughing up blood, Blood in urine, Frequent urination, Swelling of the abdomen, Redness of the skin, blood in the stool, constipation or diarrhea

To illustrate the different stages of colon cancer, here is a diagram showing the process of colon cancer from benign polyp to cancer. In this illustration, the first step is a benign polyp. A benign polyp is a growth of tissue that looks like a small lump or polyp. As cancer grows, it begins to invade nearby tissue and becomes more dangerous. The second stage is called carcinoma. Carcinomas are malignant tumors that may spread to other parts of the body. The third stage is called metastasis. Metastases are cancerous tumors that spread to other organs or tissues. The fourth stage is called cancer. Cancer is when the cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. At this stage, cancer has become life-threatening.

There are different types of staging systems for different cancers, but the most common is the numbered cancer stage system, which identifies 5 possible stages:

Stage 0 – Cancer cells that are still in the location where they started and have not spread.

Stage 1 – Localized cancer that has spread into nearby tissues. It has not yet spread to lymph nodes or other areas.

Stage 2 – Cancer has spread to a regional area or into nearby tissues or lymph nodes.

Stage 3 – More advanced regional spread than Stage 2.

Stage 4 – Cancer has spread to distant parts of the body. This stage is often referred to as metastatic cancer or cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.

Colon cancer symptoms: An overview of symptoms

Polyps: Polyps in the colon are usually harmless and disappear on their own without any treatment. Polyps can develop into early-stage cancers or they may turn out to be the only symptom of more advanced disease.

Stage 0 colon cancer: In stage 0 colon cancer, a tumor is located in the innermost layer of colon tissue. Because this type of cancer is considered to be non-invasive, it is not very likely that it will spread to other parts of the body. During this stage, a person may notice small amounts of blood or mucus in his or her stool or see unusual bumps on the wall of the colon. Cancerous polyps also often cause cramping and abdominal pain, but these symptoms usually do not occur until stage 1.

Stage 1 colon cancer: In stage 1 colon cancer, the tumor has grown into surrounding tissue and may be felt as a mass by a doctor during an examination. Abdominal pain or discomfort is common during this stage. Surgery is usually recommended to remove the tumor and prevent its further growth.

Stage 2 colon cancer: In stage 2 colon cancer, the tumor has grown so much that it protrudes through the abdominal walls or is visible by an x-ray. This type of cancer most often spreads to the liver, but may also spread to the lymph nodes in the abdomen or spread to other parts of the body, especially the lungs. Surgery may be recommended at this stage to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Stage 3 colon cancer: In stage 3 colon cancer, the tumor has spread to nearby organs or nearby lymph nodes. The risk of this type of cancer spreading to the lungs, liver, bone marrow, or other parts of the body is high. Surgery is usually recommended at this stage to remove as much of the tumor as possible.

Stage 4 colon cancer: In stage 4 colon cancer, tumors have spread to the liver, lungs, bone marrow, lymph nodes, and other distant organs. Although surgery is usually recommended at this stage to remove as much of the tumor as possible, chemotherapy may also be used. Chemotherapy is used in advanced stages when surgery is not an option or if the disease has recurred following surgery.

Advanced colorectal cancer: Even when a person's initial symptoms and signs of colon cancer are present in stages 0 and 1, the tumor may already be advanced (stage 2). Advanced colorectal cancers can cause serious problems in several organs, such as the liver and lungs.

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What causes colon cancer? When healthy cells in the colon start to grow out of control, either because they are abnormal (conditional) cells that should not be growing, or because there is a problem with growth hormones (hormone deficiency), growth hormone receptor problems, or other hormonal disorders, then these cells turn into tumors.

Tumors can grow into surrounding tissues or into the wall of the colon (intra-luminal). If intra-luminal tumors are not treated, they have a high chance of growing deep into the wall of the colon or other organs. This leads to cancer spreading to other organs - metastasis. The more advanced the tumor, the higher is the risk for cancer spread.

Cancerous cells can also form in healthy cells in other parts of our body including breast tissue, prostate gland, pancreas, uterus, kidney, bladder, or lung tissue. Some cancers are caused by viruses that may or may not be transmitted by eggs and poultry products that are poorly cooked during food preparation. According to recent studies, these viruses can cause cancer in our stomach or intestines.

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What are the risk factors for colon cancer? There are a number of factors that can increase your risk of developing colon or rectal cancer. It is important to understand what these risks are in order to take precautions against developing the disease. Some people develop colon cancer for no known reason. 

However, there are certain factors that raise a person's risk for the disease. Risk factors for colon cancer include:

Smoking: Smoking is one of the most important environmental factors related to colon cancer. People who smoke are 2 - 5 times more likely to develop this disease than non-smokers.

Bodyweight: Obesity has been linked to a higher risk of developing colorectal, pancreatic, and other cancers.

Alcohol consumption (amount): Alcohol intake may contribute to the development of colorectal polyps and cancers. The risk increases with larger amounts of alcohol consumption, but even moderate amounts might increase the risk slightly.

  "Moderate" alcohol consumption is considered no more than one drink per day for women or two drinks per day for men.

Summing up the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, you should note the following:

Colon cancer can cause abdominal pain and discomfort. It can also cause bleeding from the rectum. The rectum is a tube that runs from the anus to the back of the large intestine. When cancer has spread through the wall of the colon, it can spread through the lymph nodes near the colon and cause swelling. This swelling can block the colon or make it hard for you to pass stool. You may also notice blood in your stools. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common type of colon cancer and accounts for approximately 10 percent of all cancer deaths. Other types of colon cancer include hepatic cancer and gastric cancer. Colon cancer can be treated if detected early. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above, talk to your doctor right away. Early detection of colon cancer can prevent it from spreading.