For both men and women, colorectal cancer is the third deadliest cancer there is. This is why it’s so important to get screened for it. As with all cancers, the earlier it’s found, the easier it is to fight off. So you need to know what to look for and what doctors do to screen for colorectal cancer. Here are the common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer and the screening methods used to determine if you have it.
Signs and Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
If you have any of these symptoms you should see your doctor.
* Constipation, diarrhea, or any change to the stool that lasts for more than a few days
* Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
* Feeling like you have to have a bowel movement, but when you do go you are not feeling relieved
* Abdominal pain or cramping that is persistent. Gas or pain of any kind that doesn’t go away
* Weakness and fatigue
* Weight loss when you weren’t trying to lose weight
These symptoms can generally be explained away as other things such as a virus, infection, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease. It’s important to see your doctor if these issues persist so these things can be ruled out.
There are often no early symptoms of colorectal cancer. Signs and symptoms may vary when it develops depending on where in the colon the cancer is located. You should be more concerned if you are over the age of 50 or have a family history.
Tests for Colorectal Cancer
If you present with any of the above symptoms, then your doctor will take a complete family history. He or she will feel your belly to see if he feels any masses. He might order some blood tests to see what exactly is going on, like a CBC (Complete Blood Count) to check for anemia, liver enzymes to check your liver function because colorectal cancer can spread to your liver, and tumor markers in someone who already has colorectal cancer or has had it.
If symptoms or the results of these tests suggests cancer, then further testing is recommended. This is usually a colonoscopy, but sometimes a sigmoidoscopy or an imaging test that uses a barium enema and a lower GI series. This helps doctors screen for polyps.
During a colonoscopy, if colorectal cancer is suspected the doctor will take a biopsy which is just a small piece of tissue that is removed for further examination under the microscope. In very rare cases, part of the colon may need to be surgically removed (a part less often used) to make the diagnosis.
Additionally, scans such as a CT scan might be performed. This is used more often to see if colon cancer has spread to other organs like the liver. It gives a detailed image of the soft tissues of the body.
An ultrasound might be performed to try to see tumors, but really all this would show is tumors in the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. It cannot detect tumors in the colon. For that your doctor might recommend an endorectal ultrasound where a special transducer is inserted into the rectum. This way the doctor can see deep into the rectal wall to see where the cancer has spread, if at all, and it can look at the lymph nodes and nearby organs.
If you don’t have any symptoms of colorectal cancer but are of a certain age or have a family history, there are screening tests that can be done. Tests that find both colorectal polyps and cancer are perfect. This way if polyps are found they can be removed during the screening to help prevent them from turning into cancer. For less invasive screening, tests that check the stool can be used. However, this doesn’t find polyps.
The colonoscopy is the most common test performed to screen for polyps and cancer. However, the CT scan and the barium enema are used to screen for polyps and cancer as well.
To screen just for cancer, tests like the Fecal Occult Blood test is used. Fecal matter is screened for the occult blood which cannot be seen with the naked eye. If there is blood in the stool, a colonoscopy would need to be performed to determine where exactly the bleeding is coming from.
Check with your doctor to see what he recommends based on your symptoms or lack thereof and your family history. While colorectal cancer is the third leading deadly cancer, the development of tests and screenings has been increasing the survival rate.
Rewritten Content:
Colorectal cancer – What You need to realize
For each women and men, colorectal most cancers is the 0.33 deadliest most cancers there’s. that is why it is so crucial to get screened for it. as with every cancers, the sooner it is observed, the simpler it’s miles to fight off. so you want to understand what to look for and what docs do to screen for colorectal most cancers. right here are the commonplace symptoms and signs of colorectal most cancers and the screening strategies used to determine when you have it.
signs and signs and symptoms of Colorectal most cancers
if you have any of these symptoms you need to see your health practitioner.
* Constipation, diarrhea, or any alternate to the stool that lasts for a variety of days
* Rectal bleeding or blood inside the stool
* Feeling like you need to have a bowel motion, however when you do cross you are not feeling relieved
* belly pain or cramping this is persistent. gas or pain of any type that does not depart
* weakness and fatigue
* weight reduction when you weren’t seeking to lose weight
these signs and symptoms can commonly be explained away as different matters which include a virus, infection, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel sickness. it is vital to see your medical doctor if those problems persist so these items can be dominated out.
There are regularly no early signs of colorectal most cancers. signs and symptoms and symptoms may range whilst it develops depending on in which in the colon the most cancers is positioned. You ought to be extra involved in case you are over the age of 50 or have a family records.
tests for Colorectal most cancers
in case you present with any of the above signs, then your health practitioner will take a whole circle of relatives records. He or she will be able to feel your belly to see if he feels any hundreds. He might order some blood tests to peer what exactly is going on, like a CBC (whole Blood rely) to test for anemia, liver enzymes to test your liver function because colorectal most cancers can spread to your liver, and tumor markers in a person who already has colorectal most cancers or has had it.
If symptoms or the effects of these tests shows most cancers, then further checking out is usually recommended. This is usually a colonoscopy, however every so often a sigmoidoscopy or an imaging test that makes use of a barium enema and a decrease GI collection. This allows doctors display screen for polyps.
at some point of a colonoscopy, if colorectal cancer is suspected the health practitioner will take a biopsy that is only a small piece of tissue that is eliminated for in addition examination underneath the microscope. In very rare cases, a part of the colon may additionally want to be surgically removed (a part less regularly used) to make the analysis.
additionally, scans including a CT scan might be executed. this is used more often to peer if colon cancer has unfold to different organs like the liver. It gives an in depth image of the gentle tissues of the frame.
An ultrasound might be done to try to see tumors, but definitely all this would show is tumors in the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas. It can not discover tumors in the colon. For that your doctor would possibly advise an endorectal ultrasound wherein a special transducer is inserted into the rectum. This manner the medical doctor can see deep into the rectal wall to peer in which the most cancers has unfold, if at all, and it may take a look at the lymph nodes and close by organs.
If you have no symptoms of colorectal most cancers but are of a positive age or have a family history, there are screening tests that can be accomplished. tests that locate both colorectal polyps and most cancers are best. This way if polyps are determined they can be eliminated throughout the screening to assist save you them from becoming cancer. For less invasive screening, assessments that take a look at the stool can be used. but, this does not find polyps.
The colonoscopy is the maximum commonplace test completed to display screen for polyps and most cancers. however, the CT experiment and the barium enema are used to display for polyps and most cancers as well.
To display screen only for cancer, checks just like the Fecal Occult Blood test is used. Fecal be counted is screened for the occult blood which can not be visible with the bare eye. If there is blood in the stool, a colonoscopy would need to be carried out to decide in which precisely the bleeding is coming from.
take a look at with your health practitioner to look what he recommends based totally for your signs or lack thereof and your family history. while colorectal cancer is the 0.33 main deadly cancer, the development of exams and screenings has been increasing the survival charge.
