The colon resides at the end of the large intestine, and this is where colon cancer begins. Colon cancer is a life threatening cancer that affects nearly two million men and women in the United States each year. At this rate colon cancer will be the top killer across the lower 48 states in two years time.
It is imperative that you seek medical advice if you are over fifty years old. This is the prime age where colon cancer begins to form in the lining of the intestine. If you are not fifty years old, and you are concerned about cancer being in your family history, it's a good idea to begin asking your health care provider for advice.
What Exactly is Cancerous in the Colon?
The colon plays host to many types of cells. Some of these cells can carry the cancer virus that will cause the creation of polyps in the lining of the colon. The longer these polyps are able to reside in the lining, the bigger they will become in some patients.
Other people already have polyps residing in their colon and may never see any changes or they will change and start to give you signs that there is indeed something amiss. When this happens, you need to promptly make an appointment to see your physician or health care provider.
Are There any Known Symptoms of Colon Cancer?
A few pertinent symptoms exist in the colon cancer area that people should be aware of. They include, but are not limited to, blood in the stool, a sudden change in bowels - from normal to constipated, especially if the constipation is reoccurring for several days and not just one day here and there.
If you feel you are out of energy, consistently tired and unable to recoup lost hours of sleep, this could be a sign that colon cancer is in fact starting or has already started and is advancing.
If you have not changed your habits or caloric intake and notice a sudden drop in weight, it's time to call your physician. You must remember though, sometimes the symptoms of colon cancer can occur only when the polyps are advanced.
Other symptoms include bloating, swelling in the podiatric regions (feet), a change in sleep patterns and most importantly, a severe loss in appetite. When the colon cancer cells have advanced far enough your immune system will become weak, you will be more susceptible to the common cold or you can get the flu more than one time.
Anemia can happen when you lose too much blood; this affects you by giving you a light-headed feeling and a feeling of dizziness.
Though there are many other symptoms related directly to colon cancer, it is wise to seek medical advice sooner rather than later. If you feel any of the information in this article is directly related your circumstances, it's time to call your physician and make an appointment.
Your physician will want to run tests and make sure you are not in a stage of colon cancer.
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References:
Emedicine
WebMD
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