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Colorectal Cancer Symptoms You Should Know

Doctor holding an animated depiction of the human intestinal anatomy.
Doctor shows a visual representation of the human intestinal anatomy.

(Tina Dawn/ VM Med) — Colorectal cancer is essentially a growth of malignant cancer cells that begins in a part of the large intestine called the colon. The large intestine is the long tube that helps carry digested food to your rectum and out of your body.

Colorectal cancer develops from polyps (growths) in your colon’s inner lining. If untreated, colorectal cancer may spread to other areas of your body.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada (excluding non-melanoma skin cancers). It is the second leading cause of death from cancer in men and the third leading cause of death from cancer in women in Canada. It is estimated that 25,200 Canadians are diagnosed with the disease annually.

Colorectal cancer responds best to treatment when it is found and treated as early as possible. Knowing about the possible risks, signs, and symptoms can help you be aware of anything you should discuss with your doctor.

Colorectal cancer is typically slow-growing and often goes undetected for a long time. That’s why colonoscopies are so important because they can catch pre-cancerous polyps before they become something more serious. Polyps often don’t cause any symptoms at all. Because of this, doctors recommend regular screening tests to look for polyps in the colon, one of the best ways to prevent colorectal cancer.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

The symptoms of colon cancer are not always easy to detect because they can mimic symptoms that can be quite benign and unrelated to a serious disease. That’s why regular checkups are important. The more you and your doctor know your body, the easier it is to detect something out of place.

The most common symptoms of colorectal cancer are:

·   A change in bowel habits

·   Diarrhea, constipation, or a persistent feeling that you haven’t emptied your bowels completely

·   Abdominal pain, cramps that persist, unexplained aches

·   Blood in your stool or on your stool during a bowel movement

·   Unexplained weight loss

·   Stool that looks narrower than usual

·   Pain in and around the rectum

·   Swollen lymph nodes

·   Fatigue

Who Is Most At Risk for Colorectal Cancer?

Anyone can be at risk of colorectal cancer and more and more cases are being reported among younger people, but there are a few behaviours or groups that you might be part of that increase said risks.

The most common risk factors:

·   People who are 50 years and older

·   Men have a higher predisposition for colorectal cancer

·   People with a diet high in red or processed meat, and inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables.

·   People living with inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)

·   People who are obese

·   People who are physically inactive

·   People who smoke

·   People who engage in heavy alcohol consumption

·   People of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) descent and Black people are at higher risk

People should get screened for colorectal cancer based on their family history and age. If you have a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) with colorectal cancer, you should start getting screened 10 years earlier than the age of their diagnosis, or at age 40, whichever is earlier.

People at high risk for colorectal cancer may need to be tested more often. Talk to your doctor about your risk.

A colonoscopy can also be advised by your medical doctor if you also have other conditions, such as anemia, abdominal pain, or changes in bowel habit. With rising cancer rates in young adults, regardless of age one should remain vigilant.

However, the risk of colon cancer does habitually increase with age, so patients over 50 should consider scheduling a colonoscopy. Early detection can lead to more effective treatment options and a better prognosis, as well as removing polyps before they develop into cancer, serving a preventive role.

3D-rendered medical illustration of colon cancer in the descending colon.
A 3D-rendered medical illustration of colon cancer in the descending colon.

Staging Your Cancer

Staging describes or classifies a cancer based on how much cancer there is in the body and where it is when first diagnosed. Colorectal cancer staging can tell you the extent of the cancer and how far it may have progressed.

Information from tests is used to find out the size of the tumour, which parts of the colon or rectum have cancer, whether the cancer has spread from where it first started (metastasized) and where exactly the cancer has spread. Your healthcare team uses staging to plan treatment and estimate your prognosis. Common tools used to stage the cancer include a biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or ultrasounds.

There are 5 colorectal cancer stages. Stage zero, followed by stages one to four. The higher the stage number, the more the cancer has spread.

Doctors use staging to better understand the size and spread of the tumour and to decide on the treatment plan and prognosis. The Canadian Cancer Society offers a comprehensive look at the staging process.

Stage Three Colorectal Cancer & How It’s Treated

Stage three indicates that there are cancer cells in lymph nodes near the colon or rectum. Stage three colorectal cancer is when doctors observe that cancerous cells have spread beyond the colon wall and into nearby lymph nodes but have not yet spread to other parts of the body.

The main treatment for stage three colorectal cancer is surgery to remove the section of the colon with the cancer, along with nearby lymph nodes, but chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be used to reduce the risk of recurrence. Especially if the tumour has grown into nearby areas of the body or if all the cancer couldn’t be removed.

Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed early. However, recurrence after surgery is a major problem so vigilance is always required.

Prevention and early detection are far better strategies. Some people are put off by colonoscopies and the preparation for the test itself, but it’s the golden standard for diagnosing colorectal cancer and it might save your life. Schedule one if you suspect something is wrong or if your doctor recommends you get one.

Female doctor in scrubs wearing a blue colon cancer ribbon.
A female doctor wearing a blue ribbon for colon cancer awareness.

VM Med Surgery Centre

Our team at the VM Med Clinic’s Surgery Centre offers patients a wide range of rapid surgical procedure options. Our qualified surgeons provide exceptional results and are often available for same-day appointments. Comprehensive exams and surgical procedures are performed by a specialist that prioritizes your health and comfort throughout the entire process.

Our mission is to provide patients with timely, efficient and dignified access to a broad range of advanced health care services, including routine medical procedures like life-saving colonoscopies, diagnosis and further follow-up and treatment if colorectal cancer is detected.

For more information on your screening you can read our extensive archive of VM Med blogs, including Colonoscopy FAQ: A Painless, Lifesaving Procedure or Ovarian Cancer Symptoms, since colonoscopies often help diagnose ovarian cancer that has spread.

Still have questions? Book a consultation with our experts.

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