Colon Cancer Symptoms

Blood in the stool can range from dark to bright red, and sometimes you’ll have blood in the stool that you can’t see. While one of the most common causes of red blood in the stool is hemorrhoids, ongoing rectal bleeding is also a sign of cancer.

One of the earliest symptoms is changes in bowel habits. Because short-term changes in bowel habits are common, many people miss or ignore the early signs of colon cancer. Early-stage colon cancer shares similar digestive symptoms with several other conditions—from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to digestive infections. This can make it difficult to distinguish between the signs of colon cancer and less serious digestive changes. If you’re having some of these early symptoms, it doesn’t mean you have colon cancer. It’s likely that some other digestive issue is causing your symptoms. However, it’s always a good idea to bring up ongoing symptoms to your doctor and get checked.

An infection or diet changes may affect your bowel habits for a short time. But pay attention to any symptoms that last longer than a few days, including constipation, diarrhea, changes in how often you have bowel movements or feeling like the bowel doesn’t empty.

If you notice changes in your stool’s size, shape or consistency, it could be a sign of cancer. With colon cancer, it’s more common to have very narrow, stringy or thin stool.

If colon cancer causes pressure or inflammation in your colon, it can start to cause persistent abdominal pain. This includes achy pain, dull discomfort or feeling bloated.