Early Detection Saves Lives Before you can fully understand early symptoms of colon cancer, it is important to understand where exactly it occurs within your body. A colon refers to the final part of the digestive system; specifically, it is part of the large intestine. The purpose of a colon is to help prepare your digested foods for excretion. It stores your waste as it waits to vacate your body and plays a very minor part in extracting nutrients in the final stages of digestion. What is Colon Cancer? As the name suggests, colon cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon. Cancer occurs when cells, instead of replicating at a regular rate, begin to divide rapidly, causing tumors to form, and disrupting healthy bodily functions. As cancers progress, the growing cells can travel to other regions of the body. [youmaylike] What are Polyps? Polyps are growths that can grow within the colon. Having polyp growth does not mean you will get colon cancer. While not all polyps are cancerous, almost all malignant tumors in the colon start as polyps. Upon examination, your doctor will be able to give you more information on what your options are. Generally, a physician will perform a colonoscopy to remove it. Once removed, a pathologist can examine the tissue to determine whether or not the sample is dangerous and if further actions need to be taken. Symptoms of Polyps Polyps are not something you can see. To know something is not quite right, you will have to monitor your regular bodily functions. The most commonly reported symptoms related to polyp formation are: Rectal bleeding: If you notice that your rectum is bleeding, this could be due to polyp formation. It is important to recognize that this is also a common symptom of other problems such as hemorrhoids or anal tears. If it happens persistently, you should consider visiting your doctor for an internal examination. Abdominal pain: When polyps are rather big, they can obstruct the bowel. In doing so, it can cause problems that manifest as cramps or other abdominal pain. Irregular-colored stools: Even if you cannot notice it directly, rectal bleeding can influence the color of the stool. You may notice some small red stripes in mild cases. In more serious cases, heavy bleeding may cause your poop to appear black. Before you start to worry, make sure these color changes are not simply due to a change in diet, medication, or supplement use. Anemia: If polyps continue to bleed for a prolonged time, they may cause the development of an iron deficiency. Anemia can manifest in several ways, including fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling dizzy, fainting, or having abnormally pale skin. Common Early Symptoms of Colon Cancer Polyps themselves are, again, not a direct indication of colon cancer. While cancer can develop from a polyp, there are other symptoms which separate the benign and malignant development. Symptoms of colon cancer are different for everyone, but the most commonly reported signs are: Changes in bowel movements: Particularly, you want to pay attention to the consistency of your stools. If it looks different or you develop constipation or diarrhea for an extended time, talk to your doctor. Rectal bleeding: You might pass bloody stools. Abdominal pain: Any type of discomfort, such as cramps or gas, should be monitored. Fatigue: Feeling weak or consistently tired despite adequate rest can be a sign of many medical problems. Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss may be a sign of a lack of nutrition due to a malfunctioning digestive tract. Essentially, if your intestines are not able to properly absorb nutrients from food, you will not get enough nutrition from the food you eat. The “feeling” of a full bowel: Sometimes, even after passing a bowel movement to the highest extent possible, some patients report feeling like their bowel is not “empty”. While this is a normal sensation to experience from time to time, it can be a sign of an underlying colon problem. When to See a Doctor If you notice any of these symptoms mentioned above consistently, you should schedule an appointment with a licensed physician. Even if your abnormalities are not cancerous, they can be a sign of another serious medical condition that should be addressed. The earlier you recognize a problem, the better chance you have of getting access to effective medical intervention.
Acoustic Neuroma Symptoms
Have you heard about a condition called acoustic neuroma? You might have heard it mentioned a few times, as it might not be as common as other tumors. In the U.S., around 2,000 to 3,000 people are diagnosed annually. Data shows that it afflicts 1 person per 100,000 per year. Although its incidence is not at an alarming rate, it is worth knowing a thing or two about this condition, as it can bring a lot of discomfort and disability to those who experience it. If you have not heard about acoustic neuroma before, this is the best time to know what it is. This article will explain what acoustic neuroma is, how it occurs and the common acoustic neuroma symptoms.
What is Acoustic Neuroma?
Acoustic neuromas are benign tumors that commonly arise from the vestibular nerve, a part of the eighth cranial nerve, which is responsible for maintaining balance through signals sent to and from the inner ear.
Acoustic neuromas are also called vestibular schwannomas, a term that better describes the tumor as it is due to the tumor’s overproduction of the Schwann cells, accessory cells that produce the protective myelin sheath of nerve cells. These usually occur in the cerebellopontine angle, a small triangle between the cerebellum and lateral pontine area where are a lot of cranial nerves pass, among them the eighth cranial nerve, which is affected in acoustic neuromas. Around 80% to 90% of tumors in this area are schwannomas, with the rest being meningiomas (tumors of the meninges).
The majority of acoustic neuromas are usually unilateral, that is it occurs on one side of the body. Bilateral tumors tend to occur especially in patients with another condition called type 2 neurofibromatosis, which more commonly occurs in children. Acoustic neuromas usually start to occur in patients aged 40 to 60 years old, with bilateral tumors associated with type 2 neurofibromatosis occurring at a younger age (30 years old). There is an equal incidence between males and females.
What Are the Symptoms?
Because of its usual occurrence in the cerebellopontine angle and the involvement of the eighth cranial nerve, the symptoms of acoustic neuroma are associated with the function of the structures in these areas. The vestibular nerve plays a role in balance and position, while the cochlear nerve plays a role in hearing. Naturally, a tumor involving these areas would cause problems with hearing and balance.
1. Hearing Loss
The most common presenting symptom of acoustic neuroma is unilateral hearing loss. This is due to the tumor causing a block in the cochlear nerve or in its blood supply and occurs in 90% of people with acoustic neuroma. Aside from it being the most common presenting symptom, it is also one of the earliest symptoms of the condition. It is sometimes not detected immediately and can be dismissed in the early stages. It can even be undetected for years.
However, once it occurs, it can worsen as time passes. Because acoustic neuromas are usually unilateral in nature, the hearing loss is also unilateral, but it can also be bilateral in some cases. The hearing loss can also be accompanied by a sensation of ear fullness, which people can describe as having pressure or the sense of having water inside the ear.
2. Tinnitus
Another common symptom is tinnitus, wherein a certain noise is heard in the ears. The noise heard is usually a ringing, buzzing, or whistling sound. In acoustic neuromas, this is usually an intermittent, high-pitched sound due to the tumor. If the tumor is removed, tinnitus usually disappears in around 30% to 60% of cases. However, in a small group of individuals, tinnitus remains and may sometimes get worse even after the tumor is removed.
3. Balance Changes
Other common symptoms of acoustic neuromas are loss of balance, dizziness, or vertigo. This is because the vestibular nerve is affected, which plays a role in balance. This can occur in up to 50% of affected patients and worsens as the tumor grows. If the tumor grows big enough, it can compress the brainstem and cause problems in gait with the person falling on the side of the tumor. Dizziness or vertigo, which is a spinning sensation, can also be experienced once the tumor is large enough.
The following are other symptoms of acoustic neuromas:
- Facial numbness.
- Headaches.
- Loss of facial muscle movement.
- Facial twitching.
- Problems swallowing.
- Changes in sense of taste.
- Dry eyes or excessive tearing.
It can sometimes be hard to diagnose acoustic neuromas immediately because symptoms such as hearing loss, dizziness, or tinnitus can also be caused by common ear problems. Moreover, these are symptoms where some people will not get a consult immediately, which can further cause a delay in the diagnosis.
Fortunately, acoustic neuromas are benign tumors and patients generally have a good response to treatment. Complications are also not common and are minimal.
Although symptoms may persist, in most cases they disappear. Tumors also rarely reoccur. However, prompt diagnosis and management are important, as acoustic neuroma can still worsen and be fatal if it is left untreated due to an increase in tumor growth, which can compress brain structures and lead to fluid buildup in the brain. This is why the evaluation by a trained professional is important. Acoustic neuromas are not a cause of worry once you know the signs and symptoms and get checked early.