Colon Cancer Symptoms Men and Women Often Ignore

The Warning Signs That Are Easy to Explain Away

Most people don’t immediately think “colon cancer” when they notice a change in their bathroom habits. They think it was perhaps something they ate, stress, hemorrhoids, getting older, a new medication, or maybe they just haven’t been drinking enough water.

And most of the time, symptoms like constipation, bloating, or occasional abdominal discomfort aren’t cancer. But when a change is new, unexplained, persistent, or keeps coming back, it deserves attention.

This is especially important because colorectal cancer does not always cause obvious symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do occur, some are surprisingly easy to dismiss.

Here are some of the warning signs both men and women should know as well as when it may be time to stop waiting for them to go away.

A Change in Your Bathroom Routine That Becomes Your “New Normal”

Everyone experiences occasional constipation or diarrhea. Travel, diet, illness, medications, and stress can all affect bowel habits. What matters is a change from what is normal for you.

You may notice that you’re suddenly going to the bathroom much more or less frequently. You might experience ongoing diarrhea or constipation, or feel as though you still need to have a bowel movement even after you’ve just gone. Some people also notice a change in the appearance or shape of their stool.

The American Cancer Society includes persistent changes in bowel habits among the possible signs of colorectal cancer.¹

A day or two of irregularity usually isn’t cause for alarm. But if your bowel habits have clearly changed and aren’t returning to normal, don’t simply adjust to the change. Talk with your healthcare provider.

Blood in Your Stool, Even If You Think It’s “Just Hemorrhoids”

This may be one of the most commonly dismissed colorectal cancer symptoms. You notice a little bright red blood on the toilet paper and assume its hemorrhoids. And it certainly could be. Hemorrhoids are extremely common and are one of many possible causes of rectal bleeding. But you can’t determine the cause of bleeding simply by looking at it.

Blood may appear bright red, dark red, or make the stool look unusually dark or black. Sometimes bleeding isn’t visible at all and is discovered through stool testing or because blood loss has caused anemia.

The National Cancer Institute has identified rectal bleeding as an important warning sign of early-onset colorectal cancer, along with abdominal pain, diarrhea, and iron-deficiency anemia.²

If you repeatedly see blood in or on your stool, don’t assume you already know why it’s happening. Let a healthcare professional determine the cause.

Abdominal Pain, Cramping, or Bloating That Keeps Coming Back

We all get stomach aches. That’s exactly why this symptom can be so easy to ignore.

Gas, bloating, cramping, and abdominal discomfort can be related to everything from diet and constipation to irritable bowel syndrome. But persistent or recurring abdominal discomfort can also occur with colorectal cancer.

Pay particular attention if the discomfort:

• Is new or becoming more frequent
• Doesn’t have an obvious explanation
• Occurs along with a change in bowel habits
• Is accompanied by bleeding, fatigue, or unexplained weight loss

You don’t need to wait until pain becomes severe before mentioning it to your doctor.

Feeling Tired All the Time

Fatigue may not seem like a symptom that has anything to do with your colon.

But slow, ongoing bleeding from a colorectal tumor can sometimes lead to iron-deficiency anemia. When your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen effectively, you may feel unusually tired, weak, lightheaded, or short of breath with activities that normally wouldn’t bother you.

This can be particularly easy to dismiss. It’s tempting to blame exhaustion on work, poor sleep, stress, parenting, or simply getting older.

If bloodwork shows iron-deficiency anemia (especially without an obvious explanation) your physician may recommend evaluating whether blood loss somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract could be contributing.

Losing Weight Without Trying

For many people, unexpected weight loss initially sounds like good news. But losing weight when you haven’t changed your eating habits, exercise routine, or medications deserves a closer look.

Unexplained weight loss can occur for many reasons and doesn’t automatically mean cancer. However, when it happens alongside bowel changes, abdominal discomfort, rectal bleeding, loss of appetite, or unusual fatigue, it’s important to discuss the combination of symptoms with your physician.

“But I’m Too Young for Colon Cancer.”

Unfortunately, age alone can no longer provide that reassurance.

Colorectal cancer remains much more common in older adults, but diagnoses among younger adults have been increasing. The National Cancer Institute notes that colorectal cancer incidence has been rising in younger age groups even as rates have declined among older adults.

This is the reason average-risk colorectal cancer screening now begins for everyone at age 45. And, if you have a family history, you should be screened 10 years prior (at age 35).

There is another important distinction: screening recommendations are intended for people who do not have symptoms. If you’re younger than 45 and experiencing concerning symptoms, you don’t need to wait until you’re “old enough” for routine screening to talk with a doctor.

Family history matters, too. A family history of colorectal cancer or certain colon polyps, inflammatory bowel disease, or inherited conditions such as Lynch syndrome can increase colorectal cancer risk and may change when your physician recommends testing.

Men and Women May Dismiss Symptoms for Different Reasons

The warning signs of colorectal cancer are generally similar in men and women. What may differ is how easily those symptoms are attributed to something else.

A woman experiencing fatigue or iron-deficiency anemia, for example, may initially attribute it to menstruation or other common causes. Abdominal bloating may be assumed to be hormonal or dietary.

Men may be reluctant to mention changes in bowel habits or rectal bleeding, particularly when the symptoms seem minor or embarrassing. In either case, the message is the same since you know what is normal for your body. A persistent change deserves an explanation.

When Should You See a Colorectal Specialist?

Having one of these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer. In fact, many of these symptoms are much more commonly caused by noncancerous conditions. The goal isn’t to assume the worst. It’s to find out what’s causing the problem.

Consider seeking medical evaluation when you experience:

• Blood in or on your stool
• A persistent change in bowel habits
• Recurring or unexplained abdominal pain
• Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia or persistent fatigue
• Unintentional weight loss

Depending on your symptoms, age, medical history, and family history, further evaluation may include bloodwork, stool testing, imaging, colonoscopy, or other diagnostic testing.

Don’t Let an “Easy Explanation” Delay the Right Diagnosis

One of the challenges with colorectal cancer is that its symptoms often have perfectly reasonable alternative explanations. Until they don’t.

If something has changed in your bowel habits or digestive health, you don’t have to diagnose

yourself. And, you shouldn’t have to live with uncertainty.

Dr. Hesham Atwa is an experienced colorectal and robotic surgeon in Long Island who evaluates and treats conditions affecting the colon and rectum, from common benign problems to colorectal cancer. When surgery is necessary, his extensive experience with minimally invasive and robotic techniques allows him to develop an individualized surgical approach designed around the patient’s diagnosis and needs.

Sometimes the most reassuring outcome is discovering that a symptom isn’t serious. And when something does require treatment, finding it sooner can make an important difference.

If you’ve noticed persistent bowel changes, rectal bleeding, unexplained abdominal symptoms, or other concerns, you can schedule an evaluation at Long Island Laparoscopic Doctors, rather than continuing to wonder.

schedule Now

References: