What is the symptoms of colon cancer and how is the test done?
Parts of all 3 answers so far are correct. Rectal bleeding is a classic symptom, but red blood is NOT okay many colon cancer patients have bright red blood. Colonoscopy is the best test to check for colon cancer. All of Goldie’s symptoms are correct and you can add anemia to the list. Basically any changes in bowel habits, even if they come and go are symptoms and should be investigated regardless of age. Itching is not a symptom. If you are 50 years old you should have a colonoscopy even if you have no symptoms at all. Never ever stay away from them they save lives and are not painful. The prep is actually the worst part. Now having a baby can be degrading and is so painful you don’t care. During a colonoscopy any polyps found are COMPLETELY removed if possible and if you do have cancer hopefully it is confined to a polyp and that is the end of your treatment. Cancer found this way has a 5-year survival rate of 95-100%. However, a stage 4 colon cancer only has a 5-year survival rate o
Stomach cramps, constipation and blood in the stool are the three main symptoms of colon cancer. If you are concerned, talk with your doctor and ask to have a colonoscopy performed. A colonoscopy is done by you drinking a very salty, watery contrast drink to clean out your colon. 24 hours later, you are taken in a lab where the nurse gives you a drug (usually by IV) which will pretty much knock you out. the doctor then inserts a small camera into you through the rectum and checks your entire colon to see if there are any polyps. Or if your family has a history of colon cancer and these family members are still alive, you can check to see if you have the same genetic type of cancer. Whatever you test does not ensure that you will or will not get colon cancer. Basically, talk with your doctor and share your concerns. It’s better to get tested and to detect early than to wait and have something that is incurable.
Blood in the stool is NOT always a sign of cancer-you could just have hemorrhoids that bleed. If the blood is really red, its okay. If its old blood-kind of Brownish, then it would be bad as you are bleeding further up in the colon. A test for cancer is a biopsy taken inside the colon. The procedure is so painful and degrading that you get anesthesized before they do it. If you don’t REALLY think you have cancer, stay away from the test. It really sucks. Itching is not a sign of cancer.
