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Colorectal Cancer Health Center

Colorectal Cancer Overview

Colon cancer and cancer of the rectum usually begin as a small polyp. While most colon polyps are benign, some do become cancerous. Colon cancer symptoms may include a change in bowel habits or bleeding, but usually colon cancer strikes without symptoms. That’s why it’s important to get a colon cancer screening test, such as a colonoscopy. If the cancer is found early, the doctor can use surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy for effective treatment.

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Colorectal Cancer on the Rise in Adults Under 50
In some respects, the U.S. is winning the war on cancer. Recent reports show overall drops in the overall number of new cancer cases and the number of people who die from the cancers they get.

Understanding Colorectal Cancer -- Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?

In its early stage, colorectal cancer usually produces no symptoms. The most likely warning signs include:

  • Changes in bowel movements, including persistent constipation or diarrhea, a feeling of not being able to empty the bowel completely, an urgency to move the bowels, rectal cramping, or rectal bleeding
  • Dark patches of blood in or on stool; or long, thin, "pencil stools"
  • Abdominal discomfort or bloating
  • Unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite, and/or weight loss
  • Pelvic pain, which occurs at later stages of the disease