Below are some of the symptoms you can get if you have colon or rectal cancer. You should see your doctor if you get any of these. Your symptoms may not be caused by cancer, but it's important to get them checked out.

You might:

These are common symptoms and can be caused by many different conditions. But they could be a sign that your colon or rectum is partly blocked by a lump of cancer cells (a tumor). So you should get it checked by your doctor.

You might also notice blood or dark-colored spots in your stool. This happens because there is bleeding inside your bowel. As a tumor gets bigger,

 

 

 

 

 

feces
Feces are also called stools or bowel movements. They contain what is left over from the food you have eaten and other things that your body wants to get rid of.

 

 

 

 

 

feces passing through your colon and rectum can rub against the tumor and make it bleed.

This is a common symptom of colon and rectal cancer, but it's also a symptom of many other problems, such as

 

 

 

 

 

hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the anus. Sometimes you can see or feel them and sometimes they are inside the anus. Hemorrhoids can hurt and bleed. They usually happen when you strain a lot to pass a stool.

 

 

 

 

 

hemorrhoids. Only 1 in 5 people who have bleeding from their rectum have rectal cancer.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Miskovitz P, Betancourt M.
What to do if you get colon cancer: a specialist helps you take charge and make informed choices.
Wiley, Indianapolis, U.S.A.; 1997.

 

 

 

 

 

¹

If a tumor blocks your colon or your rectum, you can get one or more of the following symptoms:

You might feel tired and notice that your skin is looking pale. This is a caused by a condition called

 

 

 

 

 

anemia
Anemia is when you have too few red blood cells. Anemia can make you get tired and breathless easily. It can also make you look pale. Anemia can be caused by a number of different things, including problems with your diet, blood loss and some diseases.

 

 

 

 

 

anemia. It can happen when a tumor causes severe bleeding inside your bowel.

You might also lose your appetite or notice that you're losing weight. This could happen if your bowel is blocked by a tumor.

The cancer cells in your tumor might spread to other parts of your body. If this happens, you can get symptoms in these different places.

For example, some people with colon or rectal cancer get an aching pain around their

 

 

 

 

 

liver
Your liver is a large organ that sits on the right side of your body, just below your rib cage. It does several important things, including processing and storing nutrients from food, and breaking down chemicals, such as alcohol.

 

 

 

 

 

liver or in their bones. If the cancer cells have gotten into your bladder, you might need to urinate more often.

If you have these symptoms, your doctor can give you tests to see what is causing them.

The information on ConsumerReportsHealth.org should not be viewed as a substitute for a consultation with a medical or health professional. The information is meant to enhance communication with your doctor, not replace it. Consumers Union can not be liable for any loss, injury, or other damages related to your use of this information.

Your use of this information is subject to our User Agreement available at www.ConsumerReportsHealth.org.