Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
By: Alin ThomsTotal Views: 640, Word Count: 520,
Bowel cancer is known to be one of the most dangerous types of cancer which is also called the second most cause of death from cancer. Symptoms of bowel cancer can help you to keep an eye on your body disorders. Bowel cancer is life-threatening. Bowel cancer can spread more quickly in the body, so it is very important to know the symptoms of this cancer.
Cancer can occur in the colon or rectum. So bowel cancer can also be known as colon bowel cancer or colon cancer or colorectal cancer. Bowel cancer can cause by a mutation in the cells present in the lining of the bowel.
Causes of Bowel Cancer
· Age: Bowel cancer, commonly takes place in older people. It's very rare under the age of forty.
· Family Risk: If one of the family members has it, there is an increased risk of getting bowel cancer.
· Low-Fiber Diet: Bowel cancer is common in people who do not take enough fiber.
· Polyps: A polyp is a small benign growth which occurs in many of the body's internal cavities and surfaces. Most bowel cancers develop from a polyp
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
- Early bowel cancer has no symptoms. It can be noticed as less serious medical problems like piles.
Initial symptoms of bowel cancer are:
· Blood in stools or bleeding from rectum
· A change in normal bowel habits that persists for six weeks or more, e.g. constipation, diarrhea, or passing stools more frequently.
· Abdominal pain
· Mysterious weight loss
When bowel cancer progresses, it cause bleeding from inside of the bowel. Due to this, one may experience a decrease in red blood cells which is also called anemia.
Symptoms of anemia are as follows:
· Fatigue
· Breathlessness
In some cases, bowel cancer can lead to a difficulty in the bowel. Symptoms of this bowel obstruction is as follows:
· A feeling of bloating, normally around the belly button
· Abdominal pain
· Constipation
· Vomiting
It is very important to consult your general practitioner if any of above symptoms occurs for more than a few weeks.
Diagnosis for Bowel Cancer
- Colonoscopy: In this test, the doctor can analyze the patient’s large bowel using telescopic camera which is basically a narrow, flexible, tube-like equipment.
- Sigmoidoscopy: In this test, the doctor analyzes the rectum and the lower part of your bowel.
- Barium Enema: It involves placing a barium containing fluid into the patient’s bowel via rectum. After this, X-ray images of abdomen take place which show the condition of the patient’s bowel more clearly.
If after this, the doctor diagnoses bowel cancer, it is the next step to find the size and exact position of the cancer.
As now we are familiar with the symptoms of bowel cancer, it is very important to undergo regular screening program, once you are above 60 or have other bowel lining related diseases.
About the Author
Dr.Alin Thoms is a well known cancer specialist ( oncologist) and has been in this field since from 1995. He uses radiotherapy or drugs to treat cancer. He has done B.A and B.M.B.ch from Oxford University. His special interests lies in - leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and chemotherapy and transplantation for these disorders. He is currently director of the North London Cancer Network.
Advice Rating: Not yet rated
Login to vote