The common thread among these three famous faces is that they all battled colon cancer. While Osbourne and Reagan won their wars, Simon wasn’t as fortunate. He lost the fight at age 59 in early 2015. Simon is just one of thousands who succumbed to this killer.
According to the American Cancer Society, this deadly disease affects more than 103,000 people in the United States every year.
When you consider colon cancer statistics, they may make you pay more attention to signs of the disease. As it so happens, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. With statistics like these, it’s imperative that people can spot the warning signs of the disease.
There are certain factors that increase the risk of colon cancer. These include following a diet with an excess of red meat, a lack of physical activity, smoking, excess alcohol intake, obesity, age and a family history of colorectal polyps or colon cancer.
The following red flags could indicate colon cancer. Consult with your doctor if you suspect that you could be at risk,
8. Weight Loss
When you lose weight, you might be thrilled that you’ve shed a few pounds. However, sometimes weight loss can be detrimental to your health. It is said that unintended weight loss is one of the first symptoms of colon cancer. In fact, studies have shown that more than one-third of people with colon cancer experience unintentional weight loss. You may experience a decrease in appetite, which could be responsible for weight loss. Often, weight loss due to colon cancer happens rapidly and is accompanied by one or more of the signs listed below.
7. Fatigue or Weakness
Are you feeling more tired and weak than usual? Unprecedented fatigue or weakness can be a sign of colon cancer – or a host of other afflictions. Because fatigue in colon cancer patients is generally associated with blood loss. Often, tumors in the colon can bleed, which causes blood loss that results in anemia. Typically, internal bleeding due to colon cancer can go unnoticed for a long while because the colon is rather large and will mask blood loss until other symptoms also appear, like blood in the stool. For this reason, unexplained fatigue could be an early sign of colon cancer that can help you catch it before it spreads or enters later stages.
6. Changes in the Bowel Movements
There is no shame in paying attention to your bowel movements. In reality, keeping tabs on changes in your bathroom habits can provide early detection of colon cancer. Specifically, if you suspect you might have colon cancer, you may want to take note of frequent diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gas, narrowed, thin stools and a feeling of fullness. A tumor in the colon acts as an obstruction and may explain these symptoms. Conversely, diarrhea can be a sign of colon cancer that may be misidentified as IBS or indigestion.
5. Abdominal Pain
While we all experience stomach pains at times, overt abdominal sensitivity can be a sign of colon cancer. Often, the abdominal pain associated with colon cancer results in extreme sensitivity of the area. For example, someone laying their head on your stomach could be excruciating, or you may feel more pain than the average person when someone bumps into your gut. While other gastrointestinal pains are internal, the pain from a tumor in your colon could be external. Cramping is also common in people with colon cancer.
4. Anemia
Eventually, someone who experiences extreme fatigue may find out that they are anemic. Often, anemia is a sign of colon cancer. When fatigue is discussed, anemia is also mentioned because internal bleeding from a tumor could lessen the amount of red blood cells present in the body, which makes it difficult for organs and tissues to receive proper oxygenation. Many times a doctor will test patients with fatigue for anemia. However, sometimes the diagnosis doesn’t end there. If you suspect your anemia could be indicative of colon cancer, speak about it with your doctor.
3. Nausea and Vomiting
In addition to changes in your bowel movements, nausea and vomiting are other signs you want to watch. While everyone becomes nauseous and vomits from time to time, frequent, unexplained vomiting could be a sign of colon cancer. Vomiting and nausea are signs of colon cancer because blockages in the colon caused by a tumor might create excess stomach acid, which can be the reason for upset. Sometimes the vomiting and nausea associated with colon cancer is diagnosed as acid indigestion or heartburn. However, if you suspect there is something more serious at play, make your concerns known to your doctor.
2. Rectal Bleeding
Any bleeding can cause for concern. Where colon cancer is suspected, however, people often experience bleeding from the rectum. In fact, it is estimated that more than half of the people diagnosed with colon cancer experience rectal bleeding. Many times, this symptom is what causes people to believe there is something wrong going on in their bodies. Unlike blood in the stool, rectal blood is bright red and is usually found on the toilet paper or in the toilet.
1. Blood in the Stool
Probably the most common cause for investigation is blood in the stool. When there is blood in the stool, it is a purple or black color. However, blood in the stool is associated with health problems other than colon cancer, like ulcers. Many times people mistake colon cancer for an ulcer because of the appearance of blood in the stool. Even though colon cancer is prevalent, for some reason it may not be at the forefront of your mind. Because you don’t know what is really going on without the help of a doctor, it is important to keep track of your symptoms because a combination of one or more of the symptoms mentioned here could lead to a more appropriate diagnosis.
Colon Cancer Testing
Commonly, it is recommended that anyone older than 50 get a screening for colon cancer. Because of its prevalence, however, it could affect people who younger than 50. Although colon cancer is very serious, there can still be hope of survival and recovery. Still, you must inquire about signs that may indicate colon cancer immediately. It could be the most important thing you ever do.