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 Symptoms of a Yeast Infection?
Knowing that you have a yeast infection may sound a little gross, but it’s not as bad or concerning as you may think.
Yeast infections are relatively common in men and women, although women bear the brunt of it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that three in every four women get a yeast infection at least once in their life.
However, most only realize they have it once it is diagnosed. If you are worried you might have a yeast infection, you must learn the causes and symptoms. That way, you can find a way to mitigate your chances of ever having yeast infection again.
It’s a common fact that every vagina has bacteria and yeast cells. While these cells and bacteria do remain balanced, an increase in the yeast cells leads to the vagina experiencing a yeast infection.
The bacteria present in the vagina is known as lactobacillus, whereas the fungus or yeast cells are called candida. The bacteria typically keep the yeast cells in check, but an imbalance in a person’s system leads to the bacteria working ineffectively. That, in turn, leads to an increase of yeast, which causes the symptoms to develop.
The Causes of a Yeast Infection
Unfortunately, multiple reasons can lead to a yeast infection, such as:
- Stress
- Lack of sleep
- Hormonal imbalance, especially if you are near your menstrual cycle date
- Bad eating habits, such as eating sugary drinks
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Weak immune system
- Pregnancy
- Antibiotics (some can decrease the number of good bacteria in your vagina)
The most common type of yeast infections that occur are Candidiasis and Candida albicans. Thankfully, both are easily treatable and require essential medication. However, for women with recurring yeast infections, these may not be the specific infections causing problems. You will need a doctor’s appointment and a lab test to determine which infection you have.
What are the Symptoms of a Yeast Infection?
Vaginal yeast infections share a common selection of symptoms. These include:
- Swelling around the vagina
- Itchiness in the vulva folds
- Burning sensation during sex or urination
- Painful sex
- Redness
- Soreness
- Rash-like patches on the vulva folds
- White, whitish-grey, or creamy, clumpy vaginal discharge
For the last symptom, the consistency could be watery, but the discharge may also be hard and sticky, so much that it may not be easy to remove. In that case, it’s best to leave the discharge as is and wash the area. You must be sure it is clean.
In some situations, you may also experience a complicated yeast infection. However, that occurs if you do not address the main problem early on.
You might experience symptoms such as itchiness, swelling, redness, and sores on the skin. But keep in mind that there are several types of yeast infections, and the symptoms may vary.
Yeast Infections in Men
Yeast infections among men are not as common as they are for women. But they do experience similar symptoms, including irritation, itching, redness, and discharge. For them, the infection will affect the head of their penis.
Please note that yeast infections are more common among men who are not circumcised, and those who have an overgrowth of yeast on their skin. But, men can also get yeast infections if their partner has a yeast infection as well.
Is a Yeast Infection an STI?
Considering that one can transmit a yeast infection through sex, you may wonder whether that marks it as an STI or sexually transmitted infection.
But, the chances of one person getting it from an infected person are slim. And since yeast infections are not typically caused through sexual activity, they do not count as STIs.
When Should I See a Doctor?
If the symptoms mentioned above are similar to what you’re experiencing, you may have a yeast infection. To get it treated, you will need to visit the doctor.
And while you will be tempted to try any at-home remedies, don’t. Home remedies such as applying yogurt to the infected area and others have had no scientific backing. If you want to be treated correctly, you will need a doctor’s prescription.
After a pelvic exam and lab test, your doctor will know whether to diagnose a yeast infection. If they do, they will prescribe a topical antifungal medication and prescribe medicine like fluconazole, which you’ll need to take by mouth.
The infection should go away within a week, but if it doesn’t, you will need to follow up with regular doses of your antifungal medication until the doctor is satisfied.
How to Prevent a Yeast Infection
There is no concrete solution to preventing a yeast infection, but there are certain things you can do to reduce the risk of getting one, such as:
- Avoid tight pantyhose or underwear
- Wear loose-fitting skirts and clothes
- Wear cotton underwear and clothes made from natural fibers
- Do not use fragranced tampons, deodorant pads, or feminine deodorants
- Eat a healthy diet
- Avoid using hot baths or hot tubs
- Change out of wet clothing such as swimsuits promptly once you’ve been in the water
- Do not douche
Closing Thoughts
In general, yeast infections are not dangerous, but they can make life uncomfortable for a while. Avoid the problem by taking good care of your body and getting medical help if you think you have an infection.
With any luck, this will be the only time you’ll have to worry about getting a yeast infection in your whole life.