Colon Cancer

Colon cancer – Symptoms and causes

In today’s time, colon cancer (also known as colorectal cancer) has become one of the fastest-rising health concerns, especially among middle-aged and older adults. Many cases of colon cancer are closely linked to daily lifestyle habits, low-fiber diets, high consumption of red and processed meat, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, physical inactivity, and obesity.

In India, the challenge is increasing steadily. Irregular eating habits, lack of awareness about screening tests like colonoscopy, late diagnosis, and growing digestive disorders are making the situation even more serious. Additionally, family history, inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, and certain genetic mutations further increase the risk.

The good news is that when colon cancer is detected early, treatment is highly effective and survival rates are significantly better. This is why recognizing the early symptoms and consulting a doctor promptly is extremely important.

What Is Colon Cancer?

Colon cancer is a condition in which abnormal cells in the large intestine begin to grow uncontrollably and form a tumor. It can develop in any part of the colon or rectum. Although it can occur at any age, it is more commonly diagnosed in middle-aged and older adults.

Colon cancer usually begins as small, benign polyps that remain symptomless. Over time, if untreated, these polyps can turn cancerous, making regular screening crucial.

symptoms of colon cancer

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How Does Colon Cancer Develop?

Colon cancer develops when abnormal colonic cells multiply without control and form a growth (tumor). In the early stages, symptoms may be very mild or may resemble common digestive problems such as acidity, constipation, or bloating, which is why people often ignore them.

The condition becomes serious when the tumor:

grows deeper into the intestinal walls
blocks the passage of stool
spreads to nearby lymph nodes
reaches organs like the liver or lungs

Early detection and timely treatment can prevent complications and greatly improve survival rates.

Colon cancer is often linked to the following factors:

Low fiber, high-fat diet
High consumption of red or processed meats
Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
Family history of colon cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease)
Type 2 diabetes
Certain genetic mutations (Lynch syndrome)
Age above 50

This article provides expert-verified information to help you understand the risk factors and symptoms of colon cancer clearly.

Early Signs of Colon Cancer

Recognizing the early symptoms of colon cancer is extremely important because the earlier it is detected, the more successful the treatment outcomes are.
If any of the symptoms below persist for more than two weeks, you should consult a gastroenterologist immediately.

1. Blood in Stool or Rectal Bleeding

Bright red blood, dark maroon blood, or black/tarry stools can be early signs of colon cancer, whether painful or painless.

2. Persistent Change in Bowel Habits

Warning signs include:

continuous diarrhea
ongoing constipation
narrow or ribbon-shaped stools
frequent urge to pass stool even when the bowel is empty

These must not be ignored.

3. Unexplained Abdominal Pain or Cramps

Persistent stomach cramps, bloating, fullness, or discomfort without an obvious reason can indicate abnormal growth in the colon.

4. Unintentional Weight Loss

Sudden weight loss, even without dietary changes, is a major red flag and often associated with digestive cancers.

5. Fatigue, Weakness, or Anemia

Slow internal bleeding from the tumor can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, causing constant tiredness, dizziness, or weakness.

6. Feeling of Incomplete Evacuation

A continuous sensation that the bowel isn’t empty, even after using the toilet, may indicate a tumor blocking the colon.

7. Mucus in Stool or Change in Stool Appearance

Unusual mucus, foul-smelling stool, or sudden changes in stool texture or color should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

8. Long-Term Indigestion or Gas Issues

Frequent indigestion, excessive gas, or prolonged bloating without a clear cause may also be early indications.

Many people develop colon cancer even without obvious risk factors; this is why early recognition and routine screenings are extremely important.

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Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

According to clinical evidence, the following habits and conditions significantly increase risk:

Low-fiber, high-fat diet
Regular consumption of red and processed meat
Obesity or a sedentary lifestyle
Smoking and excessive alcohol intake
Family history of colon cancer or colon polyps
Chronic inflammatory bowel disease
Diabetes (especially Type 2)
Genetic predisposition (Lynch syndrome, FAP)
Age above 50
Previous abdominal radiation therapy

Understanding these factors can help prevent and early diagnose.

How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed?

If symptoms persist for more than two weeks, you should immediately consult a gastroenterologist or colon cancer specialist. Doctors usually perform the following tests:

1. Physical Examination

The doctor checks the abdomen for tenderness, lumps, anemia, and other abnormalities.

2. Blood Tests

Includes:

CBC (to detect anemia)
CEA levels (a tumor marker that may be elevated)

3. Colonoscopy (Gold Standard Test)

A long, flexible tube with a camera is used to examine the entire colon.
It allows doctors to:

Find polyps
Detect suspicious growths
Take biopsy samples

This is the most accurate test for diagnosing colon cancer.

4. Biopsy

A tissue sample from the affected area is examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of cancer cells.

5. Imaging Tests (CT Scan, MRI, or PET Scan)

These tests help determine:

How deep the tumor has grown
If it has spread to the lymph nodes
If distant organs are involved

Prevention Tips for Colon Cancer

Eat a fiber-rich diet (fruits, vegetables, whole grains)
Reduce red and processed meat consumption
Avoid smoking and limit alcohol
Maintain a healthy weight
Exercise regularly
Manage diabetes effectively
Drink adequate water and include probiotics
Get a screening colonoscopy every 5–10 years, especially after age 45
Seek early medical help for persistent digestive symptoms

Stage of Colon Cancer

Stages of colon cancer are used to determine the growth of cancer. Doctors use staging methods to indicate how far colon cancer has spread. The diagnostic tests are used to determine the size of the tumour, which eventually helps the doctor stage of cancer.

The stages of colon cancer are given below:

Colon Cancer Stage 0: Colon cancer is at an early stage of growth and has not spread at all. The tumour has not grown beyond the inner layer of the colon and is still at the location of origin.
Colon Cancer Stage 1: The cancer is growing and spreading to a nearby layer of the colon.
Colon Cancer Stage 2: This cancer has spread to the muscle layer of colon cancer but has not yet spread to the lymph nodes.
Colon Cancer Stage 3: After that cancer has spread to the outer layer of the colon and the nearby lymph nodes.
Colon Cancer Stage 4: Lastly, cancer has spread to the nearby organs and other distant organs of the body.

With increasing stages of cancer, the severity of cancer also increases. Early diagnosis is important to get treatment and hence diagnostic tests are important.

If you experience any of the symptoms of colon cancer mentioned above, suggest a doctor immediately and get the diagnostic tests done.

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Possible Treatment Options for Colon cancer

Treatment of colon cancer is determined by the doctor depending on the stage of colon cancer. There are several ways by which colon cancer can be treated including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy etc. Every treatment eventually aims to get rid of colon cancer but in different ways. The type of treatment that has to be performed depends on many factors. Even the cost of colon cancer treatment in India is quite reasonable compared to other countries.

The main types of treatment considered for colon cancer are:

Surgery: Early stages of colon cancer can be treated by removing benign tumours with the help of a colonoscopy during surgery. For more advanced colon cancer, extensive surgery is required to remove cancerous cells from the body. This type of surgery is called colon resection or colectomy. Later stages of cancer are complicated and only experienced surgeons can perform such resection.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a widely used method to treat any type of cancer. It involves drugs that kill the cancer cells in the body or any rapidly growing cells in the body. The dose of medicine being used is different for different patients. Your doctor will decide the dose and number of sessions a patient needs to take for complete treatment. Often chemotherapy is used in combination with surgery and radiation therapy depending upon the severity of cancer. Chemotherapy not only kills cancerous cells, but it also helps to improve symptoms.
Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to destroy the cancerous cells in the body. It is aimed at a particular position to only affect the cancerous cells and not alter the normal cells. It destroys the DNA of cells and hence stops them from growing. Unlike other treatment options, radiation therapy only aims to destroy cancerous cells. Some surrounding cells may get affected but they eventually recover after some time.

Survival Rate of Colon Cancer

The overall 5-year survival rate of colon cancer depends upon the stage of cancer a person has been diagnosed. As the stages increase, the survival rate decreases. The adversity of colon cancer makes it more difficult to treat and hence the survival rate is lesser. Survival Rate of Colon Cancer is depending on tumor stage — 5-year survival of: 96.6% (stage I), 88.7% (stage II), 69.9% (stage III), and 34.3% (stage IV) for colon cancer.

Stages of Colon Cancer	5-year Survival Rate
Colon Cancer Stage 0 to stage 1	Above 90%
Colon Cancer Stage 2 to stage 3	80%
Colon Cancer Stage 4	20%
All stages combined (overall average) Overall	63-65%

The overall survival rate of cancer is advancing day by day as many researchers are going on to advance the technology. New equipment and medical techniques are evolving continuously. Early detection and treatment are the most important factors that affect the survival rate of a person. Therefore, any symptoms of colon cancer must not be ignored.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Can colon cancer be cured in early stages?

Yes. When detected in Stage 1 or Stage 2, success rates are very high, often 80-90% or more.
Surgery can completely remove the tumor, and additional treatments may not always be required.

2. Does every stomach pain mean colon cancer?

No. Most stomach pains are due to common issues like gas or acidity.
But if abdominal pain, blood in stool, or changes in bowel habits persist for more than two weeks, a medical evaluation is essential.

3. What is the biggest cause of colon cancer?

A low-fiber, high-fat diet, sedentary lifestyle, and genetic factors are major contributors. Smoking, alcohol, obesity, and chronic digestive inflammation further increase the risk.