Identifying Colon Cancer: Early Symptoms Can Save Your Life

Colon cancer is caused due to growth of cancerous cells in colon, rectum and appendix. This is the third most common form of cancer prevailing in the world. As per the recent data released from American Cancer Society every year more than an estimated 148,610 new cases of colon cancer will occur with about 55,170 dying from the disease in the US alone.

Most forms of colon cancer begin with tiny cell clumps in the large intestine (colon), they are called adenomatous polyps. These abnormal clumps are usually harmless and are considered benign but rarely they multiply rapidly and turn malignant against the own body. Such transformation of healthy colon cells into dangerous cancerous cells is called colon cancer. It is called as colorectal cancer when this cancerous growth of cells spread to rectal part of large intestine.

But thanks to recent developments in medical sciences, highly reliable tests are now available with which colon cancer can be diagnosed in its early stages. Now the key is to identify the colon cancer early symptoms and consult your doctor for an early check up. Most of the early symptoms of colon cancer are non-exclusive and there could be several causes for these symptoms. Symptoms like blood in the stool, constipation or diarrhea, thinner stools, unexplained weight loss and pain in the lower abdomen and rectal area are very common. People usually never ever imagine that these could be early signs of a dreadful cancer.

Your doctor will study your medical history and if he finds you belong to higher risk group of getting affected with colon cancer he will immediately recommend colonoscopy for you. Higher risk group for colon cancer are the people with some family history of colon cancer. People, who consume excessive alcohol, eat lot of junk foods and chain smokers also run a very high risk of getting affected with colon cancer.

Colonoscopy is a test in which a clinical specialist examines internal layer of colon and rectum with the help of small camera which is inserted inside intestine with a help of a thin flexible tube. If cancer is still in the beginning stages doctors can remove polyps from colon during colonoscopy itself and colon cancer can be completely eradicated but if cancer has already spread reached advance stages then patient has to follow series of painful cancer treatments like chemotherapy and surgery.

It is for this reason that it is highly recommended for every one who are over 50 years of age and run any family history of colon cancers to identify colon cancer early symptoms and undergo detailed examination for any change in bowel habits, recurring diarrhea and constipation. Remember if you can catch it early you can eradicate it completely or else it could be the most painful disease you will ever had in your life.