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 is Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
Eating is a vital activity for all living things, including humans. Everything we ingest breaks down into important nutrients and energy to keep us active and healthy. Unfortunately, behaviors as instinctual as eating do not come easy to everyone. So, what is exocrine pancreatic insufficiency? Let's find out.
There are some individuals that suffer from conditions that interfere with their ability to properly digest food. While these diseases are rather rare, there are individuals who have exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI).
What is EPI?
EPI is a medical condition that causes digestive problems. EPI disrupts an individual’s natural ability to obtain nutrition from the food they eat. While the disease is not uncommon in dogs and cats, it is rather rare in humans.
What Causes Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
EPI is the result of pancreas malfunction. The pancreas is the organ responsible for producing chemicals, called enzymes, which are responsible for helping the body break down food. If your body produces too little of these chemicals, it cannot properly extract nutrients from the food you eat.
There are several different ways in which your pancreas can incur damage that results in EPI. Some more common explanations include the following:
- Chronic pancreatitis: When those enzymes start activating while they are still inside the pancreas, it can cause inflammation. When this happens too often, your pancreas is vulnerable to permanent damage. Some risk factors for chronic pancreatitis include having an immune system disorder or being a heavy drinker.
- Surgery: Some individuals experience EPI following surgical procedures on their pancreas, stomach, or intestines.
- Cystic Fibrosis: This condition forces the body to create large amounts of sticky mucus. Sometimes, this unusually thick substance can trap the enzymes in the pancreas, resulting in the enzymes activating inside of the pancreas.
- Schwachman-diamond syndrome: Those who suffer from Schwachman-diamond syndrome may not have the appropriate cells in their pancreas. Missing these vital cells means your pancreas simply can’t produce the enzymes at all.
- Diseases of the digestive system: Other diseases that may cause EPI are those which directly impact the digestive system. Although not everyone suffering from celiac disease or Crohn’s disease has EPI, these diseases may lead to EPI.
What are the Symptoms of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency?
Initially, individuals suffering from EPI may not notice anything out of the ordinary. It is only when the pancreas damage advances to a certain level that individuals may start exhibiting symptoms. These may be a direct result of pancreas damage or indirect effects of the inability to absorb certain vitamins.
Symptoms may include (but are not limited to):
- Stomach pain
- Foul-smelling stools
- Diarrhea
- Constant gas
- Feeling full
- Bone pain
- Weight loss
- Bleeding disorders
Treatment for Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency
A major component of EPI treatment includes lifestyle changes. Everyone can stand to benefit from a balanced diet and an overall healthy lifestyle. Avoiding substances, like alcohol, is a must. Alcohol adds extra stress on your body and can further damage the pancreas.
Changes in eating behavior are also recommended. Try to replace the “tradition” three large meals with six smaller ones. Those with EPI may struggle with having large meals.
Another main treatment includes pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT). The goal of PERT is to replenish missing enzymes that your own pancreas no longer makes. These products are ingested orally, often in combination with an antacid, to prevent your stomach acid from breaking them down too early. Additional vitamins are also recommended to supplement vitamin deficiencies.
The FDA approved six prescription drugs for PERT treatment: Creon, Pancreaze, Pertzye, Ultresa, Viokace, and Zenpep.
Doctors may prescribe additional medications to treat pain. Often, over-the-counter pain killers are effective.
When to See a Doctor
Try to remember that exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a very rare disease and troubling symptoms are likely due to another underlying condition. There are several tests that are conducted to diagnose an individual with EPI:
- Blood tests are performed to measure the levels of vitamins and enzymes in your body. These tests can also test for other diseases that put you at risk for EPI.
- Fecal tests are used to calculate levels of fat in bowel movements as well as the concentration of enzymes your pancreas is producing.
- Imaging tests, such as CT scans, MRIs, and endoscopic ultrasounds, may be performed to determine whether or not the pancreas is inflamed.
If diagnosed, your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan which works best for you.
It’s important that you discuss any worry symptoms with your primary care physician. Only they can offer the expert observation and testing needed to receive a concrete diagnosis.