How Do You Know If You Have Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Colonoscopy is a procedure used to diagnose colon cancer and other problems with the large intestine (colon). Colonoscopies are essential because they can detect colon polyps or lesions that could turn into colon cancer and ulceration, and bleeding in the colon.

The following article will discuss how you know if you have Colon Cancer, Symptoms, Colon Cancer Screening, Colonoscopy, and more.

What is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer, also known as Colorectal cancer or CRC, is a type of cancer that starts in the colon, the large intestine. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States, and it’s also one of the easiest cancers to treat when it’s caught early.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

The most common symptom of colon cancer is bleeding from the rectum. Other symptoms can include:

– Abdominal pain or cramping

– A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or feeling like you have to go but not being able to

– Weight loss

– Loss of appetite

– Weakness or fatigue

– Nausea or vomiting

Screening for Colon Cancer

The best way to find colon cancer early, when it’s easier to treat, is through regular screenings. Screening tests look for cancer before you have any symptoms. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends that all people at average risk of colon cancer start screening at age 50. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you may need to begin screening earlier.

Several tests can screen for colon cancer, but the most common one is called a Colonoscopy.

What is a Colonoscopy?

A colonoscopy is a procedure used to diagnose colon cancer and other problems with the large intestine (colon). Colonoscopies are essential because they can detect colon polyps or lesions that could turn into colon cancer and ulceration, and bleeding in the colon. Colonoscopies also allow doctors to remove precancerous growths from the lining of your intestines before they develop into full-blown cancers. Colonoscopy is an effective way to screen for colorectal disease in people without symptoms when it’s done regularly every few years, starting at age 50.

Colonoscopy Procedure

The colonoscopy procedure begins with the patient drinking a gallon of liquid over four hours to clean out their intestines. This liquid contains a laxative that causes the patient to have a bowel movement. The patient is then given an enema to clear out their rectum.

A colonoscope, which is a long, flexible tube with a camera on end, is inserted into the rectum and passed through the colon. The doctor can then see the inside of the colon and remove any polyps or lesions found. The colonoscopy itself is done with the patient under general anesthesia.

After the Colonoscopy

Most people experience mild discomfort after a colonoscopy, such as cramping, bloating, and gas. After the colonoscopy, patients are generally discharged home with instructions on caring for their anus and rectum.

If you experience any of the following symptoms after a colonoscopy, call your doctor right away:

– Severe pain in your abdomen

– Fever

– Vomiting

– Rectal bleeding that lasts for more than a few days

– Difficulty having a bowel movement

– Swelling or pain in your legs

– Chest pain

Conclusion

Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the United States, and it’s also one of the easiest cancers to treat when it’s caught early. The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is bleeding from the rectum, but other symptoms include abdominal pain or cramping, changes in bowel habits, weight loss, and fatigue.

=>The best way to find colon cancer early is through regular screenings. Colonoscopies are an effective way to screen for colorectal disease in people without symptoms when they’re done regularly every few years, starting at age 50. If you experience any of the following symptoms after a colonoscopy, call your doctor right away: severe pain in your abdomen, fever, vomiting, rectal bleeding that lasts for more than a few days, difficulty having a bowel movement, swelling, or pain in your legs, chest pain.