Still, it’s important to understand what you need to look for, so if something does pop up, you make sure to seek medical attention immediately.  Signs range from recurring constipation to thin, runny stool.  If you suspect you are experiencing signs of colon cancer, make a doctor’s appointment immediately to have an expert check things out.

Constipation

If you have a bowel movement less than three times per week, you may need to make minor adjustments to your diet.  You may also need to incorporate more physical activity into your daily routine.  Constipation can also be a symptom of colon cancer.  If you have a tumor located in your rectum, this can make it rather difficult for waste to get through, which may lead to constipation.

Thin Stool

After your stool is no longer in the slushy phase and it begins to take shape, how the stool looks as it leaves your body may provide beneficial clues to your colon health.  Thin stool may sometimes indicate that your waste is squeezed by some sort of obstacle in its path.  In the case of cancer, this may be a tumor in the colon or rectum.

Stomach Cramps

Tumors will sometimes lead to bowel obstructions.  This means your colon remains blocked.  This blockage may be rather severe or mild.  Solids, liquids and even gas may be prevented from passing through normally.  This may lead to abdominal cramping, which can be quite severe (particularly if the blood flow is restricted to the colon).  If someone is experiencing rather painful cramping, this may be an indication that a tumor has poked through the bowel wall, which is considered to be a medical emergency.

Bloody Stool

Typically speaking, tumors tend to bleed.  They do not usually bleed a whole lot or constantly, however, they do tend to bleed.  Some blood may be present in the stool during bowel movements.  For some individuals, this can be rather upsetting.  Most of the time, the blood will have dried and will be invisible to the naked eye, however, if the tumor in the rectum is towards the end of the colon, the blood may remain fresh and visible.  Therefore, if you see bright red blood in your stool, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Unexplained Weight Loss

Most of us don’t see weight loss as a particular problem.  Unfortunately, effortless weight loss is never a good thing!  This is usually a pretty good indication that there is something medically wrong with our bodies.  In the case of colon cancer, unexplained weight loss may be a sign that the tumor is releasing chemicals, which are increasing the patient’s metabolism.

Unusual Sense of Fullness

When a tumor is growing towards the end of the colon or in the rectum, this may cause a sense of fullness.  The human body senses that something is hanging around near the exit.  The individual may experience the constant sensation of needing to be relieved.

Nausea and Vomiting

There are a lot of different reasons why someone may be experiencing nausea and vomiting, however, it can also sometimes be a symptom of colon cancer.

Gas and Bloating

If you are experiencing recurring gas and bloating, this may be because a tumor is growing inside of your colon, occasionally causing blockage.  The tumor does not need to be very large, however, the stool may periodically get hung up, so to speak, while passing through.  When your bowel is blocked, air is trapped and you will feel bloated.  Once the blockage resolves itself, the air will need to be released, which will cause the individual to be gassy.

Lethargy

Sometimes, the presence of a tumor may make the individual feel fatigued and tired.  This is because the tumor may be causing a deficiency in iron, making the individual anemic.  It’s also because tumors tend to bleed, as mentioned above.  Tumors can turn into a fairly good sized bleed in the colon because there is a large amount of space there.  The blood will typically dry before leaving the body, which leaves the bleeding unnoticed.