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The colon cancer It is the most common malignant tumor in Spain, considering both sexes, with 44,000 new cases each year. It is the second type of cancer that occurs most among women, after breast cancer; and the second among men, after prostate cancer.
If detected early, it can be cured in 90% of cases. For this, it is important to undergo screening and know how to identify the warning signs.
The most frequent symptoms of this type of tumor are:
–Blood in the stool: It is one of the most frequent symptoms of colon cancer. It can be reddish blood, or black blood, which mixes with the stool, giving rise to black stools.
Sometimes the bleeding is so small that it is not visible at first glance, but it can be detected in a fecal occult blood test. After a certain time of bleeding, anemia usually appears, which in turn can cause other symptoms such as tiredness.
–Change in the rate of bowel movementsDiarrhea or constipation appears (and often interspersed with each other) in people with a previous normal bowel rhythm.
–narrower stools: usually because the tumor is narrowing the intestine and does not allow its normal passage.
–You have the feeling of incomplete evacuation: usually appears in tumors located in the rectum or the final section of the colon.
–Abdominal pain: It is common, although it is usually a non-specific pain. When the tumor partially closes the intestinal tube, a pain picture similar to colic occurs.
–Weight loss or anemia without apparent cause.
Some of these symptoms may coincide with those of other less important pathologies, such as hemorrhoids, diarrhea or digestive disorders, so it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible to get an accurate diagnosis.
Age (over 50), family history, and inflammatory bowel disease are risk factors for colon cancer. But also the lifestyle can favor its appearance.
participate in the Screening Program of each Autonomous Community if you are over 50 years old, have good dietary habits and a ehealthy lifestyle (following a low-fat diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, calcium and vitamin D, reducing red and processed meats, and avoiding being overweight, not smoking, exercising and moderating alcohol intake), are crucial measures that help prevent colorectal cancer, in accordance with the recommendations of the Spanish Foundation for the Digestive System (FEAD).
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