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.
Symptoms of Cellulitis
Your skin is your body’s biggest organ. If there is anything wrong with your body, you can ensure that your skin will start showing some red flags right away. One way it shows signs of a problem is through infection. Cellulitis is one such infection that can become serious if it is not tended to right away. But what is it and what are the symptoms of cellulitis? Let’s find out.
What is Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that is typically caused by bacteria penetrating the skin’s deeper layers through the top layer that is broken. It is usually due to an insect bite or a cut. This infection spreads quickly and causes a slew of inconvenient and harmful symptoms.
What Are the Symptoms of Cellulitis?
1. Swelling
As the area becomes infected, the skin starts swelling and becomes warm to the touch, and the swelling also becomes painful and red. You may also experience some tenderness, even if the swelling isn’t significant.
2. Blisters and Pitting
Alongside the swelling, cellulitis also causes blisters to form around the affected skin. The skin also becomes pitted, like an orange peel, leading to further skin sensitivity.
3. Fever and Chills
As with any infection, if you get cellulitis, your body reacts by triggering your immune system, thus causing fever and chills. This is a sign of concern. If you do develop a fever, you must seek medical attention immediately.
What Causes Cellulitis?
As stated above, when bacteria penetrate the inner layers of the skin, this causes cellulitis to break out. However, it is not only mosquito bites that lead to skin breakage, and even something like a paper cut can be the cause.
Other risk factors include chickenpox, shingles, skin conditions such as eczema and athlete’s foot, puncture wounds, bites, piercings and even tattoos.
Cellulitis also occurs due to bad hygiene or being overweight. It’s also common among people with chronic edema, so their limbs may stay swollen. Additionally, if you have longer nails, work outside, or even garden, these factors increase your chances of getting cellulitis since it is easier to get bacteria on yourself without really noticing.
How Cellulitis is Diagnosed
Please don’t waste time assuming that you will be fine when it comes to cellulitis. Cellulitis spreads on your skin, so your cellulitis will worsen if the swelling or redness spreads.
If you have an outdoor job that sometimes causes you to get nicks and cuts, or if you experience cuts and nicks because of sensitive skin, be careful of any bruise or cut you see on yourself. If you see a spot on your skin swelling and looking pitted, go to a doctor. You may be tempted to ignore it because the cut is small but swelling and inflammation are your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.
It will only take a basic physical exam by a doctor to determine whether you have cellulitis. If they see any marks in and around the swelling, they will diagnose cellulitis.
How to Medically Treat Cellulitis
Cellulitis does not go away with over-the-counter medication. Only antibiotics can eliminate the bacteria strain that is festering in the wound. Although most doctors prescribe oral antibiotics, they may also treat your infection with an intravenous (IV) antibiotic, especially if you become feverish or faint or if the swelling becomes out of control and painful. Your doctor may also advise keeping your affected limb elevated to decrease swelling.
Is Cellulitis Serious?
It is uncommon to get complications from cellulitis because most patients get treated quickly. However, if you ignore the symptoms, the condition can cause deterioration and can become severe over time.
Aside from the swelling, cellulitis can sometimes cause vein swelling if the bacteria spread too close to the skin. It can also lead to blood infections, joint infections, bone infections and infections that affect the lining of the heart valves.
The condition can also lead to necrotizing fasciitis in severe cases, which requires immediate care.
How to Prevent Cellulitis
The best tip for preventing cellulitis is to maintain good wound care.
Clean every injury, even minor injuries, with soap and water. Clean and cover the wound with a dry bandage, and do not attempt to bandage any open, gaping wounds yourself. Instead, seek medical help if the wound is severe or deep.
If you have any skin infections that cause blisters or wounds, get them treated and regularly watch your skin for any signs of infection or injury. Cellulitis can be sneaky, so it is best to stay cautious.
In Conclusion
Cellulitis isn’t severe if you take good care of your body. Keep your skin clean, and always seek medical assistance if you feel like your skin isn’t looking well. Your body will thank you for staying healthy and happy.