The symptoms of colon cancer are often difficult to distinguish from other medical conditions. There are very minute symptoms during the early stages, which make early detection difficult.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Over 100,000 people were diagnosed with colon or rectal cancer in the United States in 2009, along with around 50,000 deaths from the same diseases.  Statistically, this makes colon and rectal cancer one of the more dangerous types of cancer, especially since the symptoms of colon cancer may not become apparent until the later stages of the disease.  Colon cancer is the development of abnormal cellular growth in the large intestine, commonly occurring in the various tissues that release and make fluids and mucus.  Rectal cancer is highly similar, except the abnormal cellular growth is in the rectum.  Both closely linked medical conditions develop in men and women at a highly similar rate of occurrence.

Understanding the early symptoms of colon cancer helps increase the rate of early detection, allowing for faster treatment of the disease.  Detecting colon cancer early can help to increase the survival rate from the condition.  Most people will start periodic screenings for colon cancer around the age of 50, but this can fluctuate depending on the patient's family history and various other risk factors.

If you develop any of these symptoms of colon cancer, you should make an appointment to speak with your doctor.  These symptoms of colon cancer may not develop in the initial stages of abnormal cellular growth, so seeing your doctor immediately will help to get a quick diagnosis.  These symptoms alone would normally warrant a trip to your local physician.

• Rectal Bleeding - If you ever develop blood in your stools or any other type of rectal bleeding, you should see your doctor.  While this may be a common symptom of colon cancer, it is also a symptom of several other diseases and medical conditions, each of which would require an accurate medical diagnosis.  Some of the other medical conditions that can be associated with rectal bleeding include hemorrhoids and anal ulcerations.  Red stool can also be caused by various dietary alterations.  To accurately diagnose the cause of the rectal bleeding, your doctor will perform a blood test to confirm the presence of an abnormality.  Depending on the result of the test, you doctor can determine if colon cancer is likely the cause.
  
  
• Constipation and Abdominal Pain - One of the more common symptoms of colon cancer is constipation and the abdominal pain that may accompany it .  Constipation is caused by the abnormal cellular growth in the large intestine, which can obstruct the normal bowel flow.  Because of this disruption in the normal digestive flow, abdominal pain can develop.  This will primarily be concentrated along the outside edges of the abdomen, where the colon normally sits.
  
  
• Irregular Bowel Sensations - If you have just emptied your bowels, but your immediately feel like you have to again, you should speak with your doctor.  This is one of the normal signs of a bowel obstruction, which is a symptom of colon cancer.  When tumors begin to grow inside the colon, they will block off several segments of the large intestine, filling the space that would normally be filled with stool.  This causes a sensation of needing to empty your bowel when you have already done so.
  
  
• Change in Bowel Habits - With colon cancer, it is very important to notice any major differences or changes in your bowel movements, as this could be a sign of colon cancer.  Thin stools are especially common when it comes to colon cancer.  The development of tumors and the unchecked abnormal cellular growth forces stools to travel through a much smaller area, resulting in thin stools.  Watery bowel movements or abnormally dry bowel movements can be a symptom of colon cancer as well.
  
  
• Fatigue - If you are feeling tired, worn down, a generally weak along with any of these other symptoms of colon cancer, then you should speak with your doctor immediately.  This type of fatigue will normally last for a a day or more and can potentially be attributed to bleeding in the colon.

If you suspect you may have colon cancer, there are various screening and diagnostic tests your doctor can perform to determine if your symptoms are directly related to the development of cancer.  Regardless, all of these common symptoms of colon cancer will require a doctors attention, and the longer you take to have these symptoms diagnosed, the more difficult your treatment will be.

The symptoms of colon cancer are often difficult to distinguish from other medical conditions. There are very minute symptoms during the early stages, which make early detection difficult.