At an early stage, the manifestations of intestinal cancer may be subtle. Oncologist Ruslan Basanov told what symptoms you should pay attention to.
We are talking about alternating diarrhea and constipation, anemia, abdominal discomfort and weight loss. Then pain during bowel movements, blood in the stool, heartburn, nausea and vomiting may begin.
— The second stage is characterized by an increase in the tumor to 5 cm with damage to the lymph nodes. In subsequent stages, the tumor grows to 10 cm, damage to the muscle layer and regional lymph nodes is observed. In the last stage, as a rule, the tumor reaches 10 cm with metastases to other organs and tissues, — the doctor noted.
Intestinal cancer most often develops in the large intestine, it usually affects people over 45 years old.
Risk factors include:
- chronic inflammatory diseases,
- polyps in the intestine,
- poor diet, obesity and lack of physical activity.
The risk of developing the disease increases with age.
Classic signs of bowel cancer:
- Changes in stool:
- Changes in stool:
- Diarrhea or constipation that lasts more than a few days; changes in stool consistency (for example, it becomes thinner).
- Blood in the stool. The presence of blood in the stool or on the toilet paper. Black, tarry stools indicate internal bleeding.
- Persistent abdominal pain or discomfort, including cramping or colic. Feeling full or bloated.
- Loss of appetite or feeling full after eating a small amount of food.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Symptoms of anemia, such as paleness, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
Read also: Urologist Smernitsky: irregular sex life negatively affects libido
Also on the topic: Important for hypertensive patients: what is consistently high blood pressure
You can read: Endocrinologist Kvasova: good sleep affects weight and is important for the central nervous system
Important! Information is provided for reference purposes. Ask a specialist about contraindications and side effects and do not self-medicate under any circumstances. At the first signs of illness, consult a doctor.
- Changes in stool: