The colon is the area of the body that extracts salt and water from solid wastes. The waste will then be moved through the rectum and then exits the body from the anus.
When there is out of control cell growth in the large intestine, colon cancer may occur. Most of the time colon cancer starts from benign tumors called polyps, which form in the walls of the large intestine. The cancerous cells can spread from a malignant tumor to other areas of the body through the lymph systems or through blood.
During the early stages of colon cancer, there can be no symptoms at all or the symptoms are minimal. When the disease progresses the symptoms can increase. Since colon cancer symptoms typically do not present themselves until the disease has progressed, it is important to get screened regularly.
In this article we will take a closer look at 12 symptoms that may occur if you have colon cancer so that you know what to watch for.
1. Constipation
One of the most important signs of colon cancer is constipation. If there is a tumor present at the far end of the colon it can make it more difficult to eliminate waste from the body, causing a person to be constipated.
If you are consistently experiencing fewer bowel movements each week and have not had any problems with constipation in the past, it is a good idea to consult with your physician to determine what the exact cause of this may be.
