Bowel cancer, also called colorectal cancer, mostly affects older people. Unfortunately, bowel cancer is not detectable in its early stages.
Overlapping symptoms of intestinal cancers with non-cancerous conditions such as gastroenteritis, food poisoning, viral infections of the gastrointestinal tract may make them difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of intestinal cancers are common in both men and women.
In addition to counting the common signs and symptoms, we will describe the symptoms of intestinal cancers in women.
Identifying the signs and symptoms will allow us to detect colorectal cancers in the early stages when the response to treatment is high, by paying close attention to the symptoms.
what you will read next :
Who is most likely to develop bowel cancer?
- Older people: most people over 50 years old
- People of particular race : African-American race
- People with a history of gastrointestinal cancers in the family
- People with a history of intestinal polyps
- People with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Hereditary syndromes such as Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Sedentary
- alcohol consumption
- Diets rich in meat and fat and low in fiber
- Have a history of abdominal and pelvic radiation therapy
The main symptoms of bowel cancer
The three main symptoms of bowel cancer are:
- The presence of blood in the stool
- Pain
- Changes in bowel habits
Remember these symptoms, which are common symptoms of bowel cancer in men and women.
Symptoms of bowel cancer in men and women
The following are some of the symptoms of bowel cancer that are common in both men and women:
- Change defecation habits
If you have diarrhea or constipation, in non-cancerous cases this condition will go away in a few days, but if your diarrhea, constipation and bowel movements continue, take it seriously
- Bleeding from the anus:
Continued bleeding with clear blood can be a sign of lower gastrointestinal cancers.
- Dark stools:
Blood in dark stools (dark stools that are very foul-smelling and often diarrheal often indicate cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract) or excretion of clear blood mixed with feces, which usually occurs in most bowel cancers
- Persistent abdominal cramping pain:
Persistent abdominal discomfort such as prolonged abdominal pain or persistent flatulence
Unusual weight loss (weight loss of at least 20% in the last six months without having diet)
- Weakness and fatigue:
Identifying bowel cancers in the early stages, and starting appropriate treatment, prevents the condition from spreading and worsening
Stool discoloration is very important in gastrointestinal and intestinal cancers. You should consider black stools as a warning sign for intestinal cancers, the blood in black stools may be related to its place of origin.
Symptoms of bowel cancer in women
In advanced stages of bowel cancer in women, pelvic and abdominal organs can also be involved.
In the advanced stages of colorectal cancer in women, adhesions of female organs such as the ovaries and uterus, etc. may cause pelvic pain in women.
Bowel cancer is the third deadliest cancer in women, so it is best to remember the main symptoms of bowel cancer in women and be vigilant.
- See blood in the stool:
Seeing a small amount of blood in the stool or toilet bowl that is not in pain is most likely due to hemorrhoids, but if your blood volume is high or your stool is constantly black and dark, you need to check.
- Your bowel habits have changed, you have diarrhea or constipation that lasts for days
- Your stool is thin due to the closure of part of the intestine
- You have abdominal pain and cramps or gas accumulation
- Feel that you need to defecate but can’t
The final words
If you experience any of the above symptoms that persist for several days and have not improved, see your doctor for further evaluation. Do not forget to do bowel cancer screening according to your age and condition