17 Fast Facts on Colon Cancer Signs and symptoms You Should Not Ignore

Colon cancer is a third leading cause of death in United States. It can occur at any age but people above 50 are at the highest risk. It begins as clump of cells called polyp in the colon which transform into malignant cells after series of mutations. Polyps tend to cause very few symptoms so they are not detectable without proper screening of high-risk patients. Proper screening of high-risk patients is often recommended by the doctors in order to decrease the incidence of colon cancer.

Colon cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy if detected in early stages. Some of the predisposing factors are ulcerative colitis, crohn’s disease, age above 50, diet low in fiber and high in animal proteins and refined carbohydrates. Colon cancer can spread to lungs, liver and brain in later stages through lymphatics or bloodstream. Symptoms normally appear when cancer has already metastasized to surrounding organs. Some of the major symptoms are listed below but three main symptoms are abdominal discomfort, change in bowel habits and rectal bleed. It is advised to do colonoscopy every 3-5 years in patients who are predisposed to risk factors of colon cancer.