In The Venue

Cancer occurs usually when something goes wrong in the cell system. There are millions of cells in our body which grow, divide and die following a particular system. Cancer causes cell division and growth that goes beyond control. Extra tissue is formed as cancer cells form a lump. When these cancerous tumours occur in the colon, the condition is referred to as colon cancer.

Symptoms of colon cancer usually manifest only in the advanced stages. This is one of the reasons why it is essential to go through regular colon cancer screenings. Some of the prominent colon cancer symptoms include cramping in the stomach, thin stools, extreme fatigue and unexplained weight loss. Colon cancer is found to after people who are above fifty years of age. Causes are believed to be inflammatory bowel disease, smoking, alcohol and obesity. Treatment usually depends on the stage and the extent to which cancer has spread. As with all other cancer types, colon cancer is easily treatable in its early stages. Advanced stages are treated with surgery followed by chemotherapy and radiation.

There are a few symptoms which you can be aware of related to colon cancer. Constipation is the first prominent symptom of colon cancer . Slushy waste material found in the beginning of the colon can easily manoeuvre around any obstructions. At the end of the colon however, stool is solid and it becomes difficult to by pass any obstacle. If there is a tumour therefore, the first symptom exhibited is constipation.

Thin stool is another major symptom of colon cancer. Moving on from the slushy phase, the nature of the stool that comes out of your body can provide vital clues on any problem. A thin stool indicates clearly that there is something obstructing the movement of your waste through the colon. Colon rectal cancer occurs due to a tumour in the colon closer to the rectum.

Another prominent symptom of colon cancer includes cramps in the stomach. When there is a blockage in the colon, it may become difficult for solids, liquids or even gases to pass through. This can cause severe cramps due to restricted or complete blockage of blood flow to the colon. If the wall of the bowel is perforated by the tumour, it results in extremely severe pain. It is in fact an emergency situation.

Bleeding is a symptom of tumour. If there is blood in your stool, it is a cause for concern. It may be a symptom of colon cancer. The blood may dry and become almost invisible if the tumour is present in the beginning of the colon. If it is towards the rectum, then you will find fresh blood which is bright red in colour in your stools.
Weight loss is another symptom of colon cancer. If you lose weight effortlessly, it means that something is not alright. If it is due to colon cancer, then the tumour may have advanced enough to increase your metabolism by releasing certain chemicals.

Rectal tumours cause a feeling of fullness which is another symptom. This feeling may be due to the fact that your body reacts to something extra hanging at the exit. There is a constant feeling of a need to pass motion which cannot be relieved.

While nausea and vomiting can signify many other things such as drinking alcohol, common virus attacks, unpleasant smell and sight or motion sickness. However, it can also be a symptom of colon cancer.

As the tumour grows inside the colon, there is a pattern of bloating and gastric problems. This is due to the blockage caused by the tumour. Even if the tumour is relatively small and does not obstruct the bowels significantly, it may block the waste on and off causing an uneasy feeling. Air is trapped and bloating occurs due to the blockage of bowels. When the blockage gets released, you will be affected by problems related to gas.

Colon cancer results in deficiency of iron in the body which leads to anaemia. Anaemia makes you feel lethargic and extremely tired. Bleeding caused by the tumours leads to a loss of iron which is an important element that supplies cells with oxygen. Anaemia usually occurs in patients suffering from tumour in the beginning of the colon. As the beginning of the colon is quite spacious, it takes quite some time for symptoms to reveal itself. In fact, the tumour is pretty advanced by the time you can recognize the symptoms.

Even if you are aware of what you have to look for, keep in mind that colon tumour take quite a while to exhibit symptoms. Symptoms themselves are not completely reliable predictors of the disease. The best thing is to have periodic colon cancer screening. This is one of the easiest methods to catch and treat the disease in its early stages.