Constipation can be a symptom of colon cancer, but other symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue, and rectal bleeding must also be present. Age, genetics, and medical conditions can increase the risk of colon cancer. Early diagnosis is crucial, and screening tests should be done based on the patient’s risk group.
Both men and women are at risk of developing colon cancer, a disease that causes malignant tumors to grow in the colon or large intestine. The relationship between constipation and colon cancer is that constipation is a symptom of colon cancer. It’s important to note, however, that several symptoms of this cancer are common and may indicate less serious conditions. Constipation and colon cancer, for example, don’t always occur together. If a patient experiences constipation along with other colon cancer symptoms, however, further testing should be done.
Constipation is characterized by infrequent defecation. You don’t need to have a bowel movement every day, but less than three times a week is considered constipation. Patients may experience difficulty moving their bowels due to a lack of fiber or fluids in their diet, holding back bowel movements, or disruptions in their daily routine. Constipation and colon cancer may be linked if a patient’s gastrointestinal tract is narrowed or blocked by polyps, which are abnormal growths that can be malignant.
Symptoms other than constipation typically must be present to indicate cancer. These symptoms include weight loss; fatigue; and bleeding from the rectum, with or without visible blood in the stool. Colon cancer patients may also feel like they still need to go to the bathroom even after having a bowel movement.
In other cases, the patient’s age, genetics, or existing medical conditions may make it more likely that constipation is a sign of colon cancer. Most cases of colon cancer occur in people over the age of 50. People with family histories of colon cancer and those of African American or Ashkenazi Jewish descent are also more prone to the condition. Medical conditions such as obesity or type 2 diabetes are also risk factors.
Early diagnosis is essential in the treatment of colon cancer. Anyone experiencing prolonged, unexplained constipation or infrequent bowel movements along with other symptoms of the disease should see a doctor as soon as possible. Tests such as colonoscopies, fecal occult blood tests, and double-contrast barium enemas can quickly diagnose colon cancer so that treatment can begin. Patients should also undergo a series of screening tests: the frequency of each test and the age at which testing should begin is usually determined by which risk group the patient falls into. Those in the high-risk category may need to start some tests as early as age 10, while average-risk patients can typically postpone testing until age 50.
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