Overlooked Signs of Colon Cancer That Many Americans Miss Until It's Too Late

Buzzline

Each year, colon cancer claims the lives of over 52,000 individuals in the U.S., with the majority of cases identified at an advanced stage due to the frequent disregard for early indicators. Experts in gastroenterology point out five key symptoms — alterations in bowel movements, unexplained tiredness, presence of blood in the stool, a sensation of incomplete bowel evacuation, and unaccounted weight loss — which can occur months or even years prior to a critical diagnosis. The survival rate for stage one colon cancer stands at 90 percent, while it plummets to below 15 percent by stage four.

Transcript

00:00Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in existence,

00:04yet it kills over 52,000 Americans every year,

00:07largely because the early warning signs are dismissed as normal digestive discomfort.

00:13Gastroenterologists across the U.S. are raising the alarm

00:16about a specific cluster of symptoms

00:18that appear months or even years before a life-threatening diagnosis,

00:23a subtle but persistent change in bowel habits,

00:26going more or less frequently than usual for more than three weeks,

00:30unexplained fatigue that does not improve with rest,

00:33blood in the stool, even in very small amounts,

00:37a feeling of incomplete emptying after a bowel movement,

00:40unexplained weight loss.

00:42Each of these symptoms alone can be completely benign.

00:45But when two or more appear together for more than a few weeks,

00:49gastroenterologists say you must see a doctor immediately.

00:52Colon cancer caught at stage 1 has a 90% survival rate.

00:57Caught at stage 4, it drops below 15%.

01:00We will see how many infant stomachs are starting to see more than a few weeks,

01:00but we're in the same way.

01:00We'll see you next time.

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