colon cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States
accounting for more than 100 000 new cases each year it's a disease that occurs in approximately
one in 25 adults most colon cancer cases fail to show symptoms until the disease has spread
to other parts of the body however some early warning signs can raise suspicion and prompt
individuals to see a doctor for further testing which is the topic of this video because we're
going to share the top 10 early warning signs of colon cancer that you must be aware of be sure to
watch until the end because there's one that may surprise you so if you're ready let's get into it
one of the most common early warning signs of colon cancer is blood in your stool
if you notice bright red blood in your stool this indicates bleeding in the
lower intestinal tract or rectum you may also notice maroon or darker colored bowel
movements which can be a sign of bleeding higher up in the gastrointestinal tract
while blood in your stool can be caused by other conditions like hemorrhoids or
anal fissures it's important to consult with a doctor to rule out any serious underlying causes
next up on our list is changes in bowel habits if you're experiencing persistent changes in
your bowel movements this could be an early warning sign of colon cancer some examples
include constipation diarrhea changes in bowel movement frequency incomplete bowel movements
and decreased stool thickness these abnormal bowel changes can be caused by a variety of
factors such as dietary changes disagreeable foods and bacterial or viral infections however
if they last for more than a few days it's best to see a doctor to determine the underlying cause
the next early warning sign that I should mention is anemia anemia is a condition characterized by
a lack of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin these cells are responsible for carrying oxygen
to the body's tissues this symptom is common with colon cancer because intestinal bleeding
can occur without any noticeable bleeding from the rectum or stool therefore if you're experiencing
fatigue shortness of breath or lightheadedness it could be due to anemia caused by colon cancer
in this case it's important to consult with a doctor for further testing especially if it's
accompanied by other symptoms on this list the next early warning sign is a loss of appetite
cancer cells can release substances that alter how your body processes food leading to a loss
of appetite this explains why weight loss is a common symptom in cancer patients including those
with colon cancer researchers found that this symptom is associated with both metabolic changes
and reduced dietary intake this can occur both during the early and late stages of the disease
in any case the sooner you notice the symptom the better a loss of appetite
can quickly lead to malnutrition which can negatively impact your overall health
and that leads to number five on our list which is unexplained weight loss
unintentional weight loss is a Hallmark sign of multiple types of cancer including colon cancer
this may occur due to persistent diarrhea or difficulty digesting and absorbing nutrients
not to mention if patients with colon cancer have a loss of appetite it only makes sense that they
may also experience unexplained weight loss which is why these two symptoms often go hand in hand
next up on our list is nausea and vomiting symptoms are also likely due to the fact that
cancer cells release substances that can alter how our body processes food in addition a rectal
tumor can obstruct the intestines causing a buildup of waste and toxins in the body
this can lead to unwanted symptoms as the body tries to get rid of these harmful substances
therefore if you're experiencing persistent nausea and vomiting along with other signs and
symptoms it's important to see a doctor to potentially rule out colon cancer
the next symptom that we need to discuss is diarrhea diarrhea is defined as loose watery
stools that occur more than three times per day it's a common symptom of conditions like
food poisoning or a stomach virus but it can also be an early warning sign of colon cancer
while diarrhea itself is not necessarily a cause for concern it's important to see a
doctor if it lasts for more than a few days or is accompanied by other symptoms on this list
next up on our list is abdominal pain abdominal pain is a common symptom of
many different conditions but it can also be an early warning sign of colon cancer
as previously mentioned when cancerous tumors grow in the colon they can obstruct the intestines and
cause a buildup of gas and waste this can lead to abdominal pain distension cramps and bloating
in some cases the pain may be severe enough to Warrant a trip to the emergency room
another early warning sign that you must be aware of is chronic fatigue chronic fatigue is
another Hallmark sign of multiple types of cancer including colon cancer in fact researchers found
that fatigue occurs in approximately 80 percent of patients with colorectal cancer and 30 percent
of patients experience chronic fatigue this is especially true in those receiving chemotherapy
furthermore as previously mentioned colon cancer often leads to malnutrition and weight loss
both of which can contribute to fatigue so if you're experiencing fatigue that is out of the
ordinary it's important to see a doctor for help determining the underlying cause next up on our
list is pelvic pain well actually pelvic pain is actually not an early warning sign of colon cancer
pain occurs in this area it may indicate that cancerous cells have spread from the intestines to
the pelvic region this is a serious complication that requires immediate medical attention
therefore it's especially important to be aware of the symptom if you've had intestinal issues in
the past more research is needed to determine the exact link between colon cancer and pelvic pain
however a population-based study showed a clear association between the two [Music] as you can
see understanding the signs and symptoms of colon cancer is essential because an early diagnosis can
lead to more successful treatment options so just to give a quick recap the early warning signs that
you must be aware of include blood in your stool changes in bowel habits anemia loss of appetite
unexplained weight loss nausea and vomiting diarrhea abdominal pain chronic fatigue and pelvic
pain again if you experience any of the symptoms on this list please make an appointment with your
doctor to get checked out because the sooner you catch it the better your chances are of beating it
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it and there should be some other helpful videos popping up on your screen right about now that I
think you will enjoy and just a quick reminder we are not doctors this video is for informational
purposes only thank you so much for watching have a blessed day and as always breathe easy my friend