Colon cancer can develop without obvious symptoms, so changes in how you feel may not reveal the disease early. When symptoms do appear, they can affect bowel habits, cause abdominal discomfort or lead to unexplained weight loss. Regular screening can identify polyps before they become cancerous, and it can detect colon cancer even when a person feels well.
Recognize Common Symptoms
Many people with colon cancer do not have symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms develop, they can vary based on the size of the cancer and where it forms in the colon. Knowing these changes can help people recognize when they should speak with a health care professional.
Symptoms can include changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool can also occur, and some people experience ongoing abdominal discomfort, cramps, gas, or pain. A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, along with weakness, tiredness, or unexplained weight loss, can also occur.
These symptoms do not always mean a person has cancer. They can have other causes, but lasting changes that cause concern should be evaluated by a health care professional. Prompt evaluation can help determine whether further testing is needed.
Understand Colon Cancer
It can develop for months or even years without obvious symptoms. Polyps, which are small growths that can form inside the colon, often do not cause symptoms, and some polyps can eventually become cancerous. Because these changes can occur without noticeable warning signs, symptom awareness alone cannot replace regular screening.
Cancer usually begins as a polyp, although not every polyp becomes cancerous. Screening can identify these growths before they have a chance to progress, and removing them can help prevent colon cancer. A colonoscopy allows a physician to examine the entire colon and remove polyps during the procedure.
Know Screening Options
Colon cancer screening can include stool tests and colonoscopy. Screening tests are generally performed in people who feel well and have no symptoms, while diagnostic testing is used to investigate specific symptoms. Regular screening therefore provides a way to look for disease before symptoms develop.
During a colonoscopy, a physician uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a camera to examine the inside of the colon. The camera provides a real-time view of the colon lining, and polyps can be removed if they are found. A sigmoidoscopy is similar, but it examines only the lower portion of the colon.
Understand Screening Risks
Age can affect when a person should begin screening. More than 90% of colorectal cancer cases occur in people older than 50, but rates among people younger than 50 have increased. Current recommendations from the provided sources support starting screening around age 45 for people at average risk.
Family history can also affect screening needs. People with a family history of colon cancer or disease may need to begin screening earlier, and personal histories of Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or other gastrointestinal illnesses can also affect screening frequency. Discussing these factors with a health care professional can help determine an appropriate screening schedule.
Schedule a Screening
Symptoms can provide a reason to seek medical evaluation, but cancer does not always cause noticeable changes in the early stages. Screening can identify polyps before they become cancerous, and it can help detect disease before symptoms appear. People who have not received recommended screening should discuss their options with a health care professional. Schedule a colon cancer screening to discuss your risk and screening needs.
