Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Colorectal cancer is silent killer, because the symptoms of the colorectal cancer are not been showed in early state of the development of colorectal cancer. It is painless at first. It might show symptoms when the cancer grows in an area with a lot of space.

General Symtoms can be found from colon cancer patient are:
- Change in bowel habits
- change in frequency (constipation and/or diarrhea)
- change in the quality of stools
- change in consistency of stools
- Bloody stools or rectal bleeding
- Stools with mucus
- Tarry stools (melena) (more likely related to upper gastrointestinal eg stomach or duodenal disease)
- Feeling of incomplete defecation (Tenesmus) (usually associated with rectal cancer)
- Reduction in diameter of feces - Bowel obstruction (rare)

Blood in the stool is a common symptom of colon cancer. As the cancerous cells enlarge in the colon and invades surrounding tissues, it might grow nearby the blood vessel, therefore, it causes bleeding in rectum. The site of the cancer determines the site of the bleeding (Mark H. Beer et al., 2003). It might happen in early stage of colorectal cancer.

The patients who have colorectal cancer, their bowel habits will change, including diarrhea or constipation.

The patients will experience abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas, or pain. The pain might be caused by the cancerous cells compresses into nerves.

The patients with colorectal cancer will experience weight loss and fatigue. Some people weight loss despite a good appetite; some other lose their appetite and may even become nauseated by food, so they will become very thin. Due to body does not get enough nutrition as demanded by their own body, they may find that they feel tired or become short of breath when exerting themselves.