Recognizing colon cancer symptoms in women

Recognizing Early Colon Cancer Symptoms

Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine and it can be life threatening. During the early development of colon cancer the cells are benign in nature.

There are some symptoms of colon cancer that people should be well aware of. Many medical professionals like to include a screening at annual checkups as well because not everyone that is diagnosed with colon cancer has symptoms until it has significantly progressed.

Sometimes developing gas that continues to occur on and off over a period of time can be associated with colon cancer as well.

It is also a sign of colon cancer so you don't want to ignore it. Feeling out of energy and ran down no matter how much you rest can be a symptom of colon cancer due to the cells that are developing in your body. A loss of appetite as well as changes in sleep patterns can also be recognized in some patients. As the cancer cells continue to grow in the colon, they can absorb a large amount of the iron you consume. Research indicates that the right colon has more room in it. This means that the cancer cells can grow larger before you start to develop any symptoms of the problem. When the cancer cells are in the left colon though there isn't as much free space. This means that a person will generally feel the pressure sooner and have more severe symptoms associated with the colon cancer.

If you have any of the signs of colon cancer make sure you discuss them with your doctor. It will also depend on where in the colon the cancer is.

Monitor Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Colon cancer often exhibits the same symptoms as other colon conditions. Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, and peptic ulcer disease show the same symptoms of colon cancer: red or dark blood in stools, changes in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, unexplainable weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, bloating, and anemia. The disease can be present for many years before symptoms of colon cancer even show.

Symptoms of colon cancer vary according to where the tumor is located. Because the right colon is spacious, tumors in the right colon can grow to large sizes before they even cause symptoms of colon cancer. As tumors have a tendency to bleed, cancers on the right colon cause iron deficiency anemia because of the slow, unnoticed loss of blood over a long period of time. It is all the more unnoticeable because the stool travels through the colon longer, so whatever blood is in the stool dries up and even becomes invisible.

Cancers of the left colon are more likely to cause partial or complete bowel obstruction. This type of cancer causes the following symptoms of colon cancer: diarrhea, constipation, narrow stools, abdominal pains, cramps, and bloating. Go and see your doctor if you develop any of the following symptoms of colon cancer mentioned above. As mentioned, some of the symptoms can be indicative of another colon disease altogether. Below is a complete list of the top symptoms of colon cancer.

Below is a complete list of the top symptoms of colon cancer. It will do no harm to visit your doctor as soon as you feel two or more of the following:
Major change in your toilet habits, whether you move your bowels more or less
Blood in your fecal matter, bright red or dried
Stools those are thinner than usual
Unexplainable dramatic weight loss
Stomach pains, cramping or bloating
Unexplainable fatigue
Always feeling like you need to move your bowels
Constant nausea and vomiting
Iron deficiency anemia
Abdominal pain, which is a rare symptom of colon cancer, and may exhibit itself as mere tenderness in the abdomen.