What Is The First Sign Of Bowel Cancer?

Colon cancer is another name for bowel cancer.

Bowelcanceris amalignant tumorarising from the inner wall of the colon. Bowelcancermay manifest in many different ways:

• A change in bowel habits that continues for several weeks may often be the first noticeable sign ofcancer.
• 一个星期的diarrheafollowingconstipationor feeling that the bowel doesn't empty completely is one of the early warning signs of bowel cancer.
• General abdominal discomfort (frequentgaspains,bloating, orcramps),可以混淆indigestionis one of the early symptoms of bowel cancer.
• Symptomatic or asymptomaticanemia(low level ofhemoglobinin the blood) may be a sign of constant bleeding as it happens with large polyps and in bowel cancer.
• Weight losswithout consciousdietingefforts is also a sign of bowel cancer.
• Rectal bleedingor passing blood in motions may look like red blood or black. Sometimes, passingmucuswith the blood in feces is also considered an important sign of bowel cancer.

Other common signs and symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• A feeling of fullness or bloating in the abdomen (belly) or a strange sensation in the rectum, often during a bowel movement
• Weaknessorfatigue, unexplained feelings oftirednessand breathlessness, or alack of energy
• Bloating or discomfort caused by eating
• Rectal or analpain
• A lump in the rectum or anus
• A lump or mass in the abdomen
• 一个集团kage in the bowel

Bowel orcolorectal cancerusually affects thelarge intestine. Bowel cancer develops from the uncontrolled multiplication of the cells that cover the inner lining of the bowel. Often, bowel cancer develops from polyps, the small and non-cancerous growths of tissues. Bowel cancer may run in families as well. This cancer affects people of all ages. The cells that have become cancerous may spread to other areas of the body such as theliverorlungs. This is called advanced bowel cancer.

8 Causes and risk factors:

• Older age:Most people with bowel cancer are older than 50 years, and the risk increases with age.
• Polyps:Having numerous polyps in the bowel is a known risk factor.
• Bowel diseases:People who have aninflammatory bowel diseasesuch as Crohn’s disease orulcerative colitishave a significantly increased risk, particularly if they have had it for more than 8 years.
• Lifestyle factors:Beingoverweightand having adiethigh in red meat or processed meats such as salami or ham are risk factors for bowel cancer.
• Addictions:Drinkingalcoholandsmokingare risk factors for bowel cancer.
• Strong family history:A small number of bowel cancer runs in families.
• Other diseases:People who have had bowel cancer once are more likely to develop a second bowel cancer; some people who have had ovarian or endometrial (uterine) cancer may have an increased risk of bowel cancer.
• Rare genetic disorders:A small number of bowelcancersare associated with aninheritedgene, for example, familial polyposis coli.

Bowel cancer is treatable and can be cured, particularly if it is diagnosed early. Nine out of 10 people with stage I bowel cancer survive 5 years or longer after they are diagnosed. However, this survival rate drops significantly the longer a person has the disease before diagnosis. The number of people dying from bowel cancer each year has been falling since the 1970s. Guidelines generally recommend thatcolon cancerscreenings begin at the age of 50 years.

Treatment options:

• Radiotherapy:This involves usingradiationto attack the cancer cells.
• Chemotherapy andbiological therapy:These involve using medications to attack the cancer cells.
• Targeted therapies:These are also used in which a newer group of medicines increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and prevents cancer from spreading.
• Surgery:The affected part of the large bowel is removed.
  • This is the most effective way to treat bowel cancer, particularly if the cancer is limited to the bowel.
  • It can usually be performed using keyhole surgery, which means a faster recovery, smallscars, and lesspainafter the procedure.
  • In some cases, depending on the location of the growth, surgery may lead to the need for astomawhere the bowel opens into the skin on the front of the abdomen. This can be anileostomyor acolostomy. It can be permanent or temporary. Your doctor will discuss this with you prior to your surgery so that you are fully aware of the implications for you.