Colon cancer symptoms are not always clear and are often so subtle that they are mistaken for less serious conditions.
Colon cancer symptoms are often silent and so they go undetected.
As the symptoms are usually confused with less deadly conditions it enables the cancer to progress further before diagnosis and treatment.
These symptoms are very serious indeed and lead to cancer of the colon, which is in the top three of the most life-threatening forms of cancer in men.
Symptoms commonly do not give early warning signs of cancer, but through medical history, professional examination and testing, a symptoms diagnosis or determination of the presence of cancer may be determined.
Symptoms often do not lead straight to the underlying diagnosis and many symptoms can be misleading.
Symptoms can remain dormant for as long as five years, by which time the cancer will have moved long past the treatable stage.
Understanding cancer of the colon symptoms is important, as you can use this knowledge to work with your doctor to uncover the cause and take care of your long-term health.
Some of the more common local symptoms include changes in your bowel habits, such as bowel movements that are either more or less frequent than normal, constipation (difficulty having a bowel movement or straining to have a bowel movement), Diarrhea (loose or watery stools), Intermittent (alternating) constipation and diarrhea and bright red or dark red blood in your stools or black, dark colored, "tarry" stools.
Stools that are thinner than normal ("pencil stools") or feeling as if you cannot empty your bowels entirely, abdominal discomfort, bloating, frequent gas pains, or cramps.
If you experience any of these for two or more weeks, call your doctor right away to discuss your concerns and arrange for tests to get to the bottom of your symptoms.