Time for a bowel check.
About 150,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with colorectal cancer, which occurs when cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control.
While colorectal cancer is traditionally associated with the elderly, diagnoses among younger people have increased in recent years. 20% of cases in 2019 were in people younger than 55, up from 11% in 1995.
Because of the worrying trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its guidelines for colorectal cancer screening in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for adults at average risk.
You can also be alert for symptoms at home. Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon based in South Carolina and medical advisor to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, shared five signs you should never ignore.
“Bottom line: If something feels off, trust your gut — literally — and talk to your doctor,” McFadden told The Post.
Changes in bathing habits
“If you notice persistent diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the shape, size, consistency, or frequency of your stool, don’t just chalk it up to stress or a change in diet,” McFadden said.
For example, a pencil-thin pit may indicate a tumor near the end of the colon or lining it.
Blood in the stool
“Bright red or dark-colored blood is a big flag not to ignore,” McFadden warned. “This is not normal and you shouldn’t wait to check it out.”
Rectal bleeding is a symptom of several conditions other than colon cancer, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, and certain sexually transmitted infections.
Unexplained weight loss
While many people may be happy to lose weight, one retiree who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 66 recalled that he constantly shed pounds while on vacation without even trying.
He finally made an appointment when his wife said, “You’re literally tearing up before my eyes. What is it going to take to get you to see a doctor?”
“If the pounds are coming off without trying, it could mean something is wrong with your digestive system,” McFadden said.
Constant abdominal discomfort
“Pain, cramping or bloating that doesn’t go away can be a sign of something serious,” McFadden noted.
About 15% of patients at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center cite pain as one of the symptoms of colon cancer—it’s been described as an “intermittent, intermittent feeling” in their stomach.
jade
“If you’re always tired and can’t pinpoint why, it could be because of anemia,” shared McFadden.
A low red blood cell count, also known as anemia, is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients.
Anemia can be a sign that a tumor in your digestive tract is bleeding.
#signs #colorectal #cancer #ignore
Image Source : nypost.com