10 Colon Cancer Symptoms

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By dr. okoye
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Reviewed: Dr. Mera
Article Sources Article Sources
  • 1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439214
  • 2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2361444/
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Symptom #3: Bloody Stools

You might have had your experience with hemorrhoids in the past, which, as you probably know, cause light red blood to show whenever you go to the bathroom. If you have had this experience, chances are that when you see a little blood in your stool you would not think to report it to your doctor.

However, colon cancer can also be a cause of blood in your stool. If the bleeding originates from the right side of the colon, it can manifest as marron or dark stools. However, if the source is the left side of the colon or the rectum, bright red blood may appear in stools. Note that there are other causes of bloody stools (i.e. peptic ulcer disease, infectious), not necessarily related to cancer. Nevertheless, if you do notice blood appearing in your stools you should seek medical attention. Finally, among the recommended workup for colorectal cancer screening, an annual fecal occult blood test can be performed. It consists of checking your stool sample in a laboratory for the presence of hidden blood that may indicate lower gastrointestinal bleeding.

Colon Cancer

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