Although there are many symptoms of colon cancer, the most common ones are changes in defecation habits. Some of these symptoms are recent difficulty in defecation or worsening of a previous constipation situation, change in the shape or consistency of stool, pain during defecation, excessive gas and indigestion, constipation and diarrhea attacks. It may also be in the form of abdominal pain without change in defecation. Although rectal bleeding is often associated with a condition called hemorrhoids (or more commonly known as hemorrhoids) in our society, 10% of these cases may be accompanied by colon cancer; therefore, in the case of rectal bleeding, the cause of this situation should be clarified by colonoscopy, regardless of what happens. Anemia, especially anemia due to iron deficiency, is a common finding in right-sided colon cancers. Although rare, intestinal obstruction (ileus), which is sometimes characterized by the enlargement of the tumor mass and preventing the passage from the intestine, may be the first sign of colon cancer; this is manifested by increasingly severe abdominal pain, lack of defecation, and vomiting. Especially in the advanced stages of the disease, loss of appetite, weight loss, extreme weakness and jaundice (as a result of the effects of the disease on the liver) may develop.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
