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.
Latex Allergy Symptoms to Be Aware Of
A latex allergy refers to your immune system’s reaction to some substances found in natural rubber. These proteins are retained during the production of latex products which can then trigger allergies. There are several ways in which you could get exposed to products made from latex, and these are:
- Skin contact from latex gloves
- By inhaling the powder — most sterile gloves are coated with corn starch powder which is displaced into the air on opening the gloves
- Some medical instruments contain rubber, and when they come in contact with blood, they can trigger an allergic reaction
- By contact with the mucous membranes lining the eyes, mouth, vagina, and rectum
Although a latex allergy is more common among health workers because of their frequent use of latex products, others at risk of developing the allergy include:
- Individuals who use condoms, urinary catheters, or work with rubber frequently
- People who are allergic to food, such as bananas, pineapples, tomatoes, potatoes, and apples
- People with bone marrow defects
- Those with several other allergies and asthma
Allergic reactions to latex do not manifest the same way for everyone and, based on this, they can be classified into two groups:
Contact Dermatitis
This can either be irritant or allergic. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs as a result of prolonged and continuous exposure to the constituents of latex materials. This type is mild and typically starts at about 12 hours after contact. It is characterized by itching, tingling sensations, and scaling of the affected area.
Allergic contact dermatitis, however, is severe and delayed. The reaction is from substances used in processing latex and can be about 24 hours after contact. It affects more areas of the body and takes a longer time to subside.
Hypersensitivity to Latex
This type of allergy is the most severe form. Although it is not common, when it occurs, it can be life-threatening. It can present as allergic rhinitis with malaise, fever, cramps, and itching. There could also be systemic conditions such as chest tightening, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and an increased heart rate. This type of allergic response requires an urgent visit to the emergency room.
Symptoms of a Latex Allergy
Latex allergy symptoms can vary and depend on how much of the allergen you came in contact with and how your body responds to them. They could be mild, moderate, or life-threatening. Some of the symptoms include itching, small bumps all over the skin with some redness, and pain.
Systemic allergic reactions can appear as:
- Rashes and swelling in parts of your body that didn’t make contact with latex products
- Redness of the face
- Nasal congestion
- Teary eyes
In some uncommon instances, anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction, could occur. This manifests as:
- Oral, nasal, or facial swelling and pain
- Difficulty swallowing
- Difficulty breathing
How to Get Diagnosed
Most cases that present in the clinic are diagnosed based on their symptoms and history of contact with allergens, including latex. In people who do not have symptoms but are concerned that they may have latex allergies, a skin test can be done. Your skin test could be a:
- Scratch test — the latex allergen is applied on your skin’s outer surface and is scratched to get it absorbed
- Intradermal test — a tiny portion of allergen is injected just beneath your skin
- Patch test — this requires sticking a patch containing the allergen on your arm for about two days
The scratch and intradermal test results take about 15 minutes, but the patch test takes days. Also, an allergen specialist has to be present during any skin test to manage any severe reactions before they become life-threatening.
When visiting a clinic, it is vital that you inform the staff of your allergies so they can use alternative materials to avoid a reaction.
Examples of Products Containing Latex and Alternatives
When you think of latex products, it is easy to assume that most of them would be found within a hospital environment. Surprisingly, many common household materials contain latex, and as with most allergies, the more you are exposed to it, the worse the reaction becomes. Some of these household products include:
- Rubber dining and cooking utensils
- Children’s toys
- Rubber slippers and shoes
- Toothbrush handles
- Condoms and sanitary items
- Waterproof beds
- Rubber key handles, bands, stamps, and cords
- Rubber keys on controllers and calculators
Also, latex is included in some items such as balloons, checkout belts, buttons on machines, and gloves worn at restaurants during food preparation.
Therefore, it is important to be conscious of any latex materials in your household and have plastic or metallic alternatives for use. While shopping or using the atm, wear nylon gloves to reduce the chance of unconsciously coming in contact with latex materials.