WHAT ARE THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS FOR COLON AND RECTAL CANCER?
Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, and changes in bowel pattern are the most common symptoms seen with this cancer. Other symptoms include abdominal pain, weight loss, urgency, or excessive mucus in the stool. It is very important to emphasize that polyps and early cancers very seldom cause symptoms. It is for this reason that routine exams are recommended for all people, especially those with risk factors. A common misconception is that a person needs an exam only when symptoms are presents. Unfortunately, by the time symptoms have developed, a patient may have advanced disease. The best approach is to do regular exams so that polyps can be detected and removed before they become cancerous. WHEN SHOULD REGULAR EXAMS BE STARTED? Patients without symptoms are viewed as being at average or increased risk, depending upon their history. Those patients with no family history of cancer or polyps are considered at average risk. People with a family history of cancer or polyps are at increas
