Time for a bowel check.
About 150,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with colorectal cancer, which occurs when cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control.
While colorectal cancer is traditionally associated with the elderly, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. A 20% of cases in 2019 were in people younger than 55, up from 11% in 1995.
Because of the worrisome trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age for starting screening from 50 to 45 for average-risk adults.
You can also be alert for symptoms at home. Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon based in South Carolina and medical advisor to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, shared five signs you should never ignore.
“Bottom line: If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut — literally — and talk to your doctor,” McFadden told The Post.
Changes in bathing habits
“If you notice persistent diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the shape, size, consistency, or frequency of your stool, don’t just put it away because your stress or diet changes,” McFadden said.
For example, pencil-thin stool may indicate a tumor near the bottom of the colon or its inner lining.
Blood in the stool
“Bright red or dark-colored blood is a big flag that shouldn’t be ignored,” McFadden warned. “This is not normal, and you should not wait to get it checked out.”
Rectal bleeding is a symptom of several conditions besides colon cancer, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular disease, and some sexually transmitted infections.
Unexplained weight loss
While many people may be happy to lose weight, a retiree who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at the age of 66 recalled that he kept shedding holiday pounds without effort.
He finally made an appointment when his wife said, “You’re literally melting before my eyes. What would it take to make you go to the doctor?”
“If the pounds are coming off without trying, it could mean something is wrong with your digestive system,” McFadden said.
Constant abdominal discomfort
“Pain, cramping or bloating that doesn’t go away can be a sign of something serious,” McFadden noted.
About 15% of patients at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center cite pain as one of their colon cancer symptoms—it’s been described as a “constant cramping feeling” in their stomach.
Fatigue
“If you’re always tired and can’t pinpoint why, it could be because of anemia,” McFadden said.
A low red blood cell count, also known as anemia, is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients.
Anemia can be a sign that a tumor in your digestive tract is bleeding.
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Image Source : nypost.com