New Delhi: In medical parlance, colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is a type that affects the rectum or large intestine. It is the seventh most common cancer in India with a high mortality rate primarily due to late diagnosis and presentation.
According to experts, the problem arises due to the fact that symptoms don’t present themselves at an early stage. James Van Der Beek, one of the stars of ‘Dawson’s Creek’ had a few days ago opened up about his stage three colon cancer. The actor acknowledged that the first symptoms of this disease were tricky and that is what makes this type of a cancer more debilitating than others.
What were the common symptoms that James at 47 noticed? According to him, the first physiological sign he received was bowel changes initially. The erratic nature of his bowel was bothersome but James thought it was due to drinking lots of coffee and he dismissed the symptom without giving it much of a thought. But it appears that was the first signal that all was not well with his gut.
Symptoms of Colon Cancer
According to cancer specialists who treat colorectal type, most of the symptoms begin primarily as growths known as polyps in the colon or the rectum. These can very quickly spread into the walls of those areas over time. It is pertinent to note that colon cancer is not age specific and can strike at a very early stage too. Particularly in people under 55 years of age, like Van Der Beek, the incidence of such type of cancer is rising. Unlike other forms like breast or lung cancer, there is nothing much known about Colon cancer in India. It is this which makes cure of such cancers a problem in the country.
However, there are some early signs to watch out for.
- A common symptom noticed by people who have suffered from this form of cancer is a noticeable change in bowel habits. This includes episodes of diarrhea, constipation, or the feeling that the bowel doesn’t empty completely.
- Associated bloating is also a symptom that should not be ignored
- Blood in the stool, either bright red or very dark, is not common and if you notice this regularly, it is time to visit a general physician and get this checked up.
- Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away easily or occur frequently without much reason is another common symptom
- Weight loss for no known reason is also a big sign of bodily issues.
- Fatigue followed by nausea and vomiting is a clear physiological sign that the body gives out.
- Anemia and sudden loss of appetite is also a common symptom of most types of cancer that one must pay heed to.
Many people with colon cancer don’t have symptoms at first which appear depending on the size of the cancer and where it is in the large intestine. As for risk factors, those include obesity, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle which can substantially increase the risk of CRC. Although , colon cancer is not gender specific, these risk factors are known to affect men more than women.
