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.
What Are the Signs of stomach Cancer?
Stomach cancer poses a scary situation. After all, your stomach is responsible for breaking down the food you eat, allowing your body to gain essential energy and nutrients to function normally.
About 26,000 people are diagnosed with stomach cancer — also known as gastric cancer — in the U.S. each year. Accounting for 1.5% of all cancer diagnosis, this type of cancer frequently impacts older individuals, with the average age of a stomach cancer diagnosis being 68. So, you may wonder, “What are the signs of stomach cancer?"
In this article, we are going to examine what stomach cancer is, the top signs of stomach cancer, treatment, prevention and more.
Top 5 Signs of Stomach Cancer
So, let’s answer, “What are the signs of stomach cancer?" It can be hard for individuals to determine that certain signs are indicative of stomach cancer. This is because many of the symptoms are associated with other gastrointestinal conditions, including gastritis and the flu.
Unfortunately, this often means that stomach cancer is not found until it is too late. However, if at any point you or someone you love has ongoing stomach issues, especially if they are elderly, it is important to consider screening for this type of cancer to improve the odds of making a full recovery.
Here are some of the common signs of stomach cancer:
1. Weight Loss (Without Explanation)
While someone with stomach cancer may experience a loss of appetite, weight loss without trying is a sure-fire sign that something is not right. This clearly indicates that something is wrong with the digestion and absorption process, potentially signaling that cancerous tissue is involved.
At the same time, it is important to note that unexplained weight loss can also happen due to a range of other conditions, including psychological stress.
2. Lump and Pain in the Stomach
As the cancer grows, you may notice a firm lump on your stomach, as well as pain associated with this lump. At the end of the day, any abdominal pain should be taken seriously, especially if it doesn’t dissipate with time or rest.
This pain may also start as vague discomfort just above the navel, which gets worse as time goes on.
3. Nausea or Vomiting
Again, many of the symptoms on this list are also the same as those associated with the stomach flu. However, indigestion, including nausea, vomiting and gas, is another sign of stomach cancer, especially if it is associated with other symptoms on this list.
Vomiting may also occur with or without blood, depending on the severity of stomach cancer a person is experiencing.
4. Heartburn or Acid Reflux
Heartburn after eating can also indicate stomach cancer, yet it is also important to note that heartburn may also be issues with your heart mistaken for indigestion. Thus, this sign alone does not necessarily mean you have stomach cancer. A proper diagnosis made by your doctor or a specialist can determine what is really going on.
5. Feeling Full Quickly After Eating
If this commonly occurs, even after a small meal, this could mean you have stomach cancer. This is because the cancerous tissue is not only interfering with the stomach’s function, but also taking up room within this organ, which may send conflicting signals to your brain and vice versa.
Stomach Cancer Treatment
Treatment for stomach cancer depends on the stage of stomach cancer, where the tumor is located, whether or not the cancer has spread and your general overall health.
Typically, a combination of chemotherapy and surgery are used to get this type of cancer under control. In other cases, radiotherapy and other medications may also be used to control or manage symptoms.
Can You Prevent It?
While you cannot prevent cancer, you can reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This includes:
- Maintaining a healthy weight.
- Consuming a nutrient-rich diet containing mostly whole foods.
- Regular exercise.
- Limiting alcohol consumption.
- Avoiding drug use.
- Eating a diet with plenty of fruits and veggies.
- Not smoking/quitting smoking.
- Treating any stomach or gastrointestinal infections.
The American Cancer Society also indicates that using aspirin may lower the risk of stomach cancer. However, it is important to note that these types of medications can also cause internal gastrointestinal bleeding with long-term use.
In particular, when it comes to treating stomach or gastrointestinal infections, the quick treatment of H. pylori may reduce the risk of developing stomach cancer later on by reducing any pre-cancerous lesions in the stomach.
If you have been diagnosed with an incurable form of stomach cancer, the goal of treatment will be to make you comfortable and reduce symptoms as much as possible. It’s also essential to seek out support from your loved ones and professionals. A cancer diagnosis can be incredibly difficult, especially without a good support network. In some towns and cities, you may also find joining a support group and connecting with others going through similar situations can help you cope.