Colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer and is the uncontrollable and abnormal growth of malignant cells in the colon (large intestine). It initially starts out as benign clumps of cells that are commonly known as polyps. Over time, polyps develop to grow into colon tumors. Although it majorly affects older people, it can affect people of all ages.

There are many types of treatments that can be administered to a patient with colon cancer, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, and surgery. If diagnosed at an early stage of growth (at the polyps stage), it is much easier to control and eliminate the cancerous tumor. Screening tests can determine the presence of tumors early, and treatment can be administered immediately.

Causes of colon cancer
Although there is no exact cause of colon cancer, the common causes for all cancers, in general, can be taken into account. When these cancerous activities develop in the colon, it is called colon cancer.

Early warning symptoms of colon cancer
Here are some common early warning symptoms of colon cancer:

• Change in bowel activities: When affected by colon cancer, people tend to develop symptoms like constipation (stools that are hard to pass out), diarrhea (uncontrollable and watery stools), bowel incontinence, and other odd bowel conditions that may be less severe but cause equal discomfort. These may occur as a direct result of cancer or as the after-effects of cancer treatment.
• Bloody stools: One of the major early warning symptoms for colon cancer is the presence of blood on or in stools. There may be other causes f bloody stools as well. In some cases, stool may appear to be bloody but might be coloration due to something one has consumed. However, it’s advisable to see a doctor if one notices blood in stools.
• Anemia: Anemia is the lack of red blood corpuscles in the body and causes fatigue and weakness. This can be the effect of colon cancer, especially if anemia is sudden and unexplainable.

Some other early warning symptoms of colon cancer are:

• Unusual pain in the stomach
• Gastric problems
• Fatigue and weakness
• Unexplained loss in weight
• Nausea
• Rectal bleeding
• Abdominal cramps

Common risk factors of colon cancer

• The majority of colon cancer cases are among people aged above 50 years.
• A family history of cancer increases one’s risk
• High-fat diets accompanied by little to no exercise can be a huge risk factor
• Genetic disorders and conditions like diabetes add to the risk of this disease
• Smoking and frequent alcohol consumption also increases the risk

If one experiences any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it’s best to get a doctor’s advice on getting further examination. Screening is an easy and efficient way to diagnose colon cancer.