Bowel Cancer Symptoms and Signs

Bowel cancer, which is also known as colorectal cancer, is a cancer that is marked by growth of tumors in the veriform appendix, rectum, or colon. These cancers tend to begin in the lining of the bowel and progress to other parts of the body if they are not treated promptly. Without treatment, bowel cancer can easily grow into the layers of muscle beneath the bowel before eventually growing through the bowel. 

The cancer usually begins as small growths and neoplasms on the walls of the bowel. In most cases, these growths are shaped like mushrooms and are typically benign. However, over time, it is possible for some to turn into a tumour and become cancerous. As a result, it is worth discovering the symptoms and signs of bowel cancer to provide people with an advantage against the cancer.

The symptoms and signs of bowel cancer vary in large part depending on where the cancer is located within the bowel. The symptoms also depend on whether the cancer has metastasized, or spread to other parts of the body. There is no singular symptom that can be used by itself to diagnose the presence of bowel cancer, but two typical high risk features of the cancer are anaemia and bleeding from the rectum. A blood test can be used to obtain a clearer picture of what is occurring inside the body.

Symptoms that are localized are more likely to occur if the cancerous growth is located in greater proximity to the anus. Patients with bowel cancer are likely to experience a change or unforeseen variation in their dietary habits. For example, they might suddenly develop constipation or develop diarrhoea without having any other symptoms. There might also be a feeling that defecation, when it occurs, did not occur to completion. This is known as rectal tenesmus. 

Beyond the aforementioned factors that may be indicative of the early stages of bowel cancer, as the tumour gains in strength and ability to impact the body, the possibility of lower gastro intestinal bleeding becomes higher. This includes the presence of bright red blood when passing stool. Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur or be present within the body when these signs are present. Similarly, the increased presence of mucus may also indicate a looming cancer.

A black coloured stool that appears tarry is known as melena. This kind of stool is more likely to occur when upper gastro intestinal bleeding is taking place, such as when a duodenal ulcer is impacting the lining of the stomach. However, there are some instances where the presence of melena may be indicative of colorectal cancer. This is more likely to happen when the disease is situated close to where the large bowel begins.

When a tumour becomes large enough to take up the whole lumen inside the bowel, bowel obstruction may result, which may then result in a change bowel habit as well as constipation, vomiting, and abdominal pain. These are highly suggestive of bowel cancer when they occur absent of other causes.