Jakarta –
The characteristics of colon cancer are important to know. The reason is, this disease often shows symptoms that are similar to other conditions, for example ulcers.
As a result, the symptoms of colon cancer are often considered trivial and even ignored. In fact, colon cancer that is not treated quickly can lead to serious, life-threatening complications.
Please note, colon cancer is a general term used to refer to cancer in the intestinal area. Specifically, the name of this disease will change depending on where the cancer cells appear, for example in the large intestine or small intestine.
Characteristics of Colon Cancer
1. Constipation
Colon cancer can cause changes in bowel habits (BAB). One of them is constipation.
Quoted from Cancer Research UK, tumor tissue in the stomach can press and narrow the large intestine and rectum. This can make people with colon cancer experience difficulty defecating or constipation.
Apart from that, constipation can also occur when tumor tissue grows in the intestinal lining. This can affect the nerve supply to the muscles and cause constipation.
2. Diarrhea
Apart from constipation, a change in bowel habits that can be triggered by colon cancer is diarrhea. Diarrhea is a condition when the stool becomes watery and occurs more often than usual.
Quoted from the Mercy Medical Center page, diarrhea can occur when tumor tissue releases fluid (secretion) which then makes the stool more watery.
3. BLOODING CHAPTER
In some cases, colon cancer can be caused by polyps. Quoted from the Cleveland Clinic, intestinal polyps are lumps that appear on the inside of the large intestine.
Generally, intestinal polyps are not dangerous. However, large polyps, especially those that develop into cancer, can trigger bleeding. This is what causes blood spots in the stool.
4. Bleeding in the Rectum
Bleeding in the rectum is one of the characteristics of colon cancer that is often not realized. The rectum is the final part of the large intestine that collects stool before it is expelled through the anus.
This symptom is also often missed because it is similar to hemorrhoids. The difference is, colon cancer does not cause pain in the anus. In addition, blood from hemorrhoids is bright red, while colon cancer is dark red.
5. Stomach Cramps and Bloating
In people with colon cancer, tumor tissue can cause intestinal blockage or obstruction. This can trigger symptoms such as stomach cramps and bloating.
Because they are similar to other digestive disorders, these symptoms should be examined further to confirm the diagnosis. Get yourself checked immediately if you experience stomach cramps and bloating continuously without a clear cause.
6. Weight Loss
Quoted from the UnityPoint Health page, cancer cells can release substances that affect the body’s performance in converting food into energy. In addition, tumor tissue can cause intestinal blockage. This can trigger bowel disorders, such as diarrhea, which ultimately causes sudden weight loss.
Watch the video “Spain successfully carries out the first baby intestine transplant in the world”
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2023-11-23 10:33:17
#Features #Colon #Cancer #Underestimated
