As the name implies, colon cancer affects the large intestine or colon. When it is combined with the last few inches of the large intestine, it is generally referred to as "colorectal cancer". When it comes to the signs, symptoms & stages of this cancer it's important to be vigilant, as catching it while still in the earlier stages can improve your chances of recovery and survival. Crucially, many of the symptoms of colon cancer can frequently be associated with other conditions and illnesses that are not related to cancer. The reason for this is that initial symptoms can appear as problems within the stomach or gastrointestinal area, such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.

In most cases, the signs, symptoms & stages of colon cancer that you think you recognize may not actually indicate cancer. However, if you do discover any of these indications, it's crucial to speak to a doctor so that you can be examined to find out if you do have that kind of cancer.

Symptoms to Watch Out For:

There are different ways in which colon cancer can appear within an individual, and so the symptoms that you experience might vary. However, the most common are:

– A change to your bowel habits, such as constipation, diarrhea, or narrowing within the stool that occurs for longer than a few days.

– A strong sensation that you need to have a bowel movement, but you continue to have that feeling even after you have been to the bathroom

– Bleeding around the rectum, or blood within the stool that appears as darker stools

– Abdominal pain or cramping

– Fatigue and weakness

– Sudden and unintended weight loss

If any of these symptoms turn out to be signs of colon cancer, then you should be aware that symptoms typically will only appear when the cancer has spread or grown. This is why it is so important to receive testing for colon cancer before you begin experiencing symptoms in the first place. Colon cancer that is discovered through screening is usually much easier to treat. In some circumstances, screening may even prevent the cancer from occurring by removing pre-cancerous growths known as polyps.

Signs, Symptoms & Stages of Colon Cancer:

Once you have an understanding of the signs & symptoms of colon cancer, it's important to understand that thes can appear in various stages. The stage you are in will determine your preferred form of treatment. For instance:

– Stage 0 colorectal cancer can usually be removed with surgery, and is only found within the inner lining of the colon.

– Stage 1 colorectal cancer may have spread beyond the inner lining of the colon to the third or second layers, but it will not have spread outside of the colon.

– Stage 2 colorectal cancer may have spread through the wall in the cancer, but the lymph nodes throughout the body will not be affected with cancerous cells.

– Stage 3 colorectal cancer will have spread beyond the colon into one lymph node or more.

– Stage 4 colorectal cancer will have spread to other parts of the body, such as the lungs or liver, making it far more difficult to treat.