Colorectal cancer starts out as a quiet cancer, rarely broadcasting its presence until the later stages of development. At that time, colon cancer may have spread beyond the boundaries of the colon and invaded other organs. Because of its initial silence, screening for this disease is imperative -- it is the best way to reduce incidences. The warning signs of colon cancer are many and varied, but they all center mostly on the gut or stomach/abdomen area. So read on for warning signs and risk factors for colon cancer and do your best to live a healthy, cancer-free life.
The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2014, nearly 157,000 new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) were diagnosed. In the same year, there were more than 50,000 deaths. Ninety percent of people diagnosed with this cancer were older than 50. But studies have confirmed that the fastest-growing group of new colorectal cancers are those younger than 50, and those cancers mostly involve the rectum. The highest-risk ethnic risk group is African-Americans. The incidence rate of CRC among African-Americans is 25 percent higher than Caucasians, and the mortality rate is 50 percent higher than Caucasians. Other racial groups come in behind Caucasians for rates of colon cancer.
The Colon’s Description and Function
The colon, also known as the large intestine, is the last part of the digestive system. There are four main parts of the colon -- the ascending colon, which runs up the right side of the abdomen. The transverse colon, which runs right to left across the abdomen, follows. The descending colon travels down the left side of the abdomen. Finally, the sigmoid colon is a short, upward and right-curving segment that ends in the rectum.
The function of the colon is to complete the digestive process. As such, it reabsorbs fluids and prepares wastes in the body for elimination. So relatively speaking, the colon is a repository of toxins until they are flushed from the body.
Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine. Most cases of cancer start out as small, noncancerous cells called adenomatous polyps. Over time, some of these polyps turn cancerous. Regular screening for these polyps may help save you from colorectal cancer.
10 Signs of Colon Cancer
Often, early-stage colon cancer has no signs or symptoms. Colon cancer symptoms also can signal other illnesses. Because of this, screening tests are extremely important for the detection of colorectal cancer. Familiarity with the types and occurrence of symptoms of can be invaluable for an accurate diagnosis of colon cancer.
1. Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool may result in a very dark bowel movement, traces of blood, or quite possibly, normal stool.
2. There may be changes in your bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation or going more often.
3. There are times when you may feel the urge to move your bowels even though you already may have done so.
4. You may experience cramping in the belly and abdomen, and in later stages of the disease, pelvic pain.
5. There may be unexplained fatigue or weakness.
6. You may find yourself with unexplained and unexpected weight loss.
7. Chronic diarrhea, gas or constipation may be signs of colorectal cancer.
8. You may have persistent abdominal bloating.
9. There may be a loss of appetite for no apparent reason.
10. You may have a serious bout of anemia.
Other diseases such as GI tract infections, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease share the same symptoms as colon cancer. Knowing what the risk factors are for CRC may help you decide to get cancer screening.
Risk Factors
Obvious risk factors include previous bouts of colorectal cancer or a family history of it. A previous history of other cancers has been attributed to a high risk of polyps in the colon or rectum. “Family history” includes first-degree relatives such as parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins or grandparents. If one or more of these relatives had CRC earlier than age 50, your risk of cancer may be higher. Three to 5 percent of colon cancers are linked to hereditary gene susceptibility. Women who had ovarian or endometrial cancer or men who had testicular cancer are both at higher risk for CRC.
If you have a history of digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, and others, your risk for colorectal cancer just got a little higher.
Diabetes increases one’s risk factor by a full 30 percent. Once cancer is detected and treated, the prognosis is still poor. Obesity that often accompanies diabetes is another risk factor. One study showed that obese women were four times more likely to get CRC than normal body-mass indexed women. Those women or men who are apple shaped also carry a higher risk because extra weight around the belly seems to be related to diabetes and insulin release.
Controllable lifestyle risk factors such as smoking or chewing tobacco doubles the risk of polyps, which are associated with colon cancer risks. In fact, some experts believe that up to 25 percent of CRC risk may be attributable to smoking or tobacco use. And having more than two drinks a day considerably increases your risk for cancer. If you are like many Americans, snacking on foods with a low nutritional value is comforting. But these factors and a sedentary lifestyle eventually may catch up to you, resulting in a high risk of colon cancer.
So put the odds in your favor and make a few lifestyle changes, get the prescribed screening for colorectal cancer at your doctor’s request, and keep your digestive tract happy and healthy.