Colon cancer usually does not show any symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage, so it’s important to be attentive to the early warning signs. Like any other form of cancer, colon cancer can adversely impact overall health and one’s quality of life, but watching out for certain early warning symptoms of colon cancer can facilitate early diagnosis and timely as well as proper treatment. Here are some symptoms of colon cancer one should be aware of:

• Changes in bowel habits:  One of the most important early warning symptoms of colon cancer is frequent bouts of diarrhea. One might also suffer from constipation on multiple occasions, or a patient may suffer from loose stools or pass ribbon-like stool, which can continue for multiple days.
• Unnatural bowel movement or urge:  This is one of the most important early warning symptoms of colon cancer. One may feel the urge for a bowel movement but may not be able to pass stool, or they might get a feeling that the bowels are not emptying completely. The medical term for this is tenesmus. Also, if this symptom continues for an extended period, it’s best to visit a doctor.
• Rectal bleeding:  This is one of the major early warning symptoms of colon cancer. One may notice blood in the stool or bleeding from the rectum otherwise. The blood may be bright red or dark red in color, and this symptom requires immediate medical attention. Some people may also notice the stool darkening in color.
• Cramping or abdominal pain : One might feel an involuntary spasmodic contraction of the belly or other types of pain and discomfort in their abdomen. In several cases, a person may also get a bloating sensation.
• Weakness and fatigue:  One may experience weakness and fatigue, even without doing any exhausting work.
• Unintended weight loss:  One of the obvious and most noticeable early warning symptoms of colon cancer is sudden and unintended weight loss, which may also lead to fatigue and depression in some people.
• Unexplained loss of appetite:  One may suddenly experience a lack of appetite, resulting in weight loss. This may be caused by a metabolic change due to cancer, and patients may also suffer from dry mouth or mouth sores.
• Iron deficiency anemia:  One may suffer from anemia due to iron deficiency in their body as a result of blood loss over a period. The symptoms of this type of anemia are shortness of breath, fatigue, pallor, and dizziness.

Colon cancer is mostly diagnosed after it has spread and reached an advanced stage, but being mindful of the early above-mentioned signs can facilitate early diagnosis in some cases. Also, people with a family history of colon cancer should get regular screenings from an early age.