Colon Cancer Symptoms and Signs

It would be very hard to understand what colon cancer is if one does not know about the different functions that the colon is supposed to perform. Colon is a part of the human digestive system and performs the function of absorbing nutrients from the food, water and any other product consumed throughout the day.

Colon Cancer
Colon cancer, also popularly known as large bowel cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells start to grow in the intestines. In a majority of cases, the tumors that develop would be benign, but if it is not removed well in time they can become malignant. Record books clearly state that this form of cancer is second on the list of those to which humans are most susceptible. To add to this grievance, it is very difficult to diagnose colon cancer in its preliminary stages. This requires the people to be more aware so that they can consult with a physician as soon as they pick up possible signs of colon cancer.

Reasons to know the Symptoms
There are numerous reasons so as to why an individual should know about colon cancer symptoms and signs. By knowing about them, not only does identification become easier but so does the treatment. Medically it has been known that the earlier any form of cancer is reported, the better are the chances of full recovery. There may be times when the symptoms may point to something else or nothing at all, but it is always better to take precautionary measures instead of suffering due to a late discovery.

Forms of Colon Cancer
The forms of Colon Cancer can broadly be divided into three forms. Regional cancer i.e. when the spread of cancer is limited to a certain area, constitutional cancer i.e. when the spread of cancer is unconstrained and has affected the complete body and metastatic cancer i.e. when the cancer has affected the different organs and may have also spread to the blood stream. As one can understand, the first form is the easiest to cure than the second, which in turn is easier to cure than the third.

Symptoms and Signs 

The several signs and symptoms of which the more prominent ones are listed below:

a) Sudden and drastic change in the bowel habits. This includes experiencing diarrhea or constipation for more than one or two weeks in a row. Remember that under perfectly healthy conditions, these problems should be over in less than a week’s time. 
b) Loosing blood with stool is another sign of colon cancer. However, it may also happen due to Crohn’s disease or haemorrhoids.
c) Other possible signs include abdominal pain, stomach cramps, fatigue and a bloated feeling.

If any of the aforementioned symptoms or signs is witnessed, it is best to consult a doctor as soon as possible. It would be unwise to assume that the phase would pass when there is in fact something wrong. Colon cancer may happen to anyone and everyone which is why it pays to be diligent. 

Colon Cancer Survival Rate and Tumor Location
According to an article published in the European Journal of Cancer, tumor location impacts colon cancer survival rate. In the United States for example, the five-year survival rate for tumors in the ascending colon (closest to the small intestine) is about 63%. In the transverse colon, the survival rate is about 59%, and in the descending colon, it's about 66%. (The five-year survival rate represents the percentage of patients alive five years after their initial diagnosis.)

Colon Cancer Survival Rates in Different Countries
According to the same study, colon cancer survival rates also vary by country. While the overall five-year survival for colon cancer in America is 62%, it's 43% in Europe. Quality of care may be one reason, but another could be colon cancer screening programs. In general, the earlier colon cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.

Colon Cancer Survival Rate and Stage at Diagnosis
Stage at diagnosis also greatly impacts colon cancer survival rates. Research published in the ANZ Journal of Surgery found that In Australia, the five-year survival for stage 1 colon cancer is 93%, but it drops to 59% for stage 3 colon cancer. For more information about colon cancer stages in general, please read Colon Cancer Stages.

Colon Cancer Survival Rate and Exercise
Most of the factors I've mentioned are out of your control. You live where you live and you didn't choose to have colon cancer, so you didn't get to pick which kind to get or where to get it. So, what can you do to improve your chances of survival now that you have it? Researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston conducted two studies, both of which revealed that moderate exercise can signficantly increase the survival rate of colon cancer patients. Another study, published in the journal Gut, shed some light on why exercise may increase colon cancer survival rates.