The bowel is the lower part of the digestive system. The digestive system is also called the gut or gastrointestinal tract (or the GI tract or GIT for short).
The bowel goes from the stomach to the back passage (anus). It is a hollow muscular tube. It processes all the food we eat and breaks it down into nutrients for the body to use. It also gets rid of any solid waste matter from the body as poo (also called faeces or stools).
Cαncєr of the bowel principally refers to the cαncєr that begins in the large bowel. Depending upon where its origin is, it can either be called colon cαncєr or rectal cαncєr and the symptoms can show up when one goes to the toilet.
There are a number of signs that indicate the presence of colon or rectal cαncєr. Instead of feeling embarrassed or shy about it, one should talk openly about their symptoms so that a proper diagnosis can take place and be followed by the required treatment.
It is important to note that bowel cancer is curable, especially if detected in the early stages. The probability of curing it completely however falls as it develops and turns into a full-fledged disease.
Early detection and treatment really does save lives and here are the symptoms that you should look out for
Warning signs
Symptoms of an early stage colorectal cαncєr include sudden weight loss, narrow stools that are ribbon-like, rectal bleeding which can be dark or bright red in color and an uneasy feeling that makes one feel like they have to empty their bowel but nothing actually passes. Other symptoms of this condition include anemia, persistent abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss.
Although these symptoms could be a result of other minor conditions such as ulcers, hemorrhoids or Crohn’s Disease, it is necessary to bring them to the concern of a medical professional if observed.
Symptoms
Some other symptoms include blood in the stool, a change in regular excretion timings, increased frequency of emptying the bowels or constipation. It also includes a tangible lump in the back passage or the stomach, or a feeling of needing to strain in the back passage. The symptoms can be observed in men as well as women. It is important to talk about these symptoms to your doctor.
Risk factors
Even though there isn’t a single cause that can be pin-pointed for causing bowel cancer, but there are multiple factors that can increase the risk of getting the fatal disease. Regular smokers are also prone to getting this condition. People who have pre-existing conditions such as extensive ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease in the colon for long periods of time, ranging around ten years or more have also been found to be at a greater risk of developing bowel cαncєr. People who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing. Active and excessive red meat consumers are also susceptible. Regular bowel cαncєr screenings for people who have one or more of these lifestyle habits or conditions should attend screenings more often.
