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Bowel cancer, the most well-known are colon cancer and rectal cancer, is a type of tumor that develops in the intestine, being more common in a portion of the large intestine, from the evolution of polyps, which are changes that can appear in the intestinal wall and that, if not removed, can turn into malignant.
The main signs and symptoms of bowel cancer are frequent diarrhea, blood in the stool and pain in the belly, however these symptoms can be difficult to identify, since they can also occur due to common problems such as intestinal infection, hemorrhoids, anal fissure and food poisoning.
In addition, signs and symptoms may vary according to the location of the tumor and the severity of the disease, so it is recommended to go to the gastroenterologist or general practitioner when the symptoms persist for more than 1 month.
Bowel Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of bowel cancer are more frequent in people over 60, who have a family history of bowel cancer or who have chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis, for example. Select the symptoms in the following test to find out if you are at risk for bowel cancer:
- 1. Constant diarrhea or constipation? No Yes
- 2. Dark or bloody stools? No Yes
- 3. Gases and abdominal cramps? No Yes
- 4. Blood in the anus or visible on toilet paper when cleaning? No Yes
- 5. Feeling of heaviness or pain in the anal area, even after evacuating? No Yes
- 6. Frequent tiredness? No Yes
- 7. Blood tests for anemia? No Yes
- 8. Weight loss for no apparent reason? No Yes
In addition to being more frequent in older people, with a family history or who have chronic intestinal disease, bowel cancer has a higher risk of developing in people who are overweight, do not practice physical activity, have alcohol and smoking habits or in people who have a diet rich in red or processed meat and low in fiber.
When to go to the doctor
It is recommended to consult the gastroenterologist or general practitioner when the symptoms last for more than 1 month, especially when the person is over 50 and has some other risk factor. This is because there is a greater likelihood of bowel cancer, and it is important to carry out exams so that the change is identified in the initial phase and the treatment is more effective. Understand how treatment is done for bowel cancer.
How to know if it is bowel cancer
To verify that the symptoms presented by the person are bowel cancer, the doctor recommends carrying out some diagnostic tests, the main ones being:
- Stool examination: helps to identify the presence of occult blood or bacteria responsible for altering intestinal transit;
- Colonoscopy: it is used to evaluate the intestinal walls when there are symptoms or presence of occult blood in the stool;
- Computed tomography: used when colonoscopy is not possible, as in the case of coagulation changes or breathing difficulties, for example.
Before doing these tests, the doctor may also ask for some changes in diet and lifestyle to confirm that the symptoms are not being produced by less serious situations such as food intolerances or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Check out other tests ordered to diagnose bowel cancer.
Watch the following video and learn how to collect feces correctly to proceed with the test: