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Symptoms

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

8 signs to see your doctor

  1. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
  2. Stools that are narrower than usual–like the size of a pen or pencil
  3. Frequent gas pains, bloating, a feeling of fullness, or abdominal cramps
  4. Weight loss for no known reason
  5. Feeling you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
  6. A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, that lasts for more than a few days
  7. Unexpected weakness or fatigue
  8. No symptoms

Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer:

  • Smoking
  • Little fruit, vegetable, and fiber consumption
  • Overweight and obese
  • Lack of physical activity and exercise
  • Heavy alcohol use
  • Diabetes
  • A diet high in red meat (beef, pork, lamb), processed meats, and fats
  • Meat preparation including grilling, broiling, frying, or other methods at very high temperatures
  • A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps

About Screening

Colorectal cancer is highly preventable with regular screening.

People at average risk should start screening at age 45.

Those at higher risk may need to begin screening earlier and should talk to a healthcare provider. Additional risk factors include:

  • Inflammatory bowel diseases like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
  • Genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome

There are multiple screening options, including colonoscopy, stool-DNA tests, and the fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Some tests can be done at home.

If a stool-DNA or FIT test comes back abnormal, a follow-up colonoscopy is needed.

Remember, the best screening is the one that gets done.

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Media

Host Liz Adeola moderates a panel of medical experts and colon cancer survivors to answer viewer questions, provide vital information, and speak to the experience of diagnosis, treatment, and health outcomes. Dr. Charles R. Rogers addresses current research findings on the inequalities in men’s health, with a focus on colorectal cancer awareness and prevention among African-American men.