Major symptoms of colon or rectal cancer

Change in bowel habits: The change can last more than a couple of weeks and include constipation, diarrhea, thin stool and abdominal pain with bowel movement.

Bleeding: Tumors tend to bleed. As a result, some of that blood may show up in your stool.

Persistent abdominal discomfort: Sometimes a tumor causes a bowel obstruction. This leads to abdominal cramps, which can be severe, especially if the blockage restricts blood flow to the colon. Painful cramps also might indicate that a tumor has perforated the bowel wall.

Unexplained weight loss: With colon cancer, it can be a sign a tumor is releasing chemicals that are increasing your metabolism.

Full feeling: A tumor that grows toward the end of the colon or in the rectum may cause a sense of fullness.

Gas or bloating: A pattern of gas and bloating may be an indication that a tumor is growing in the colon and occasionally causing a blockage.

Weakness or fatigue: Sometimes the presence of a tumor causes iron deficiency anemia, a condition that can cause you to feel extremely tired. Tumors tend to bleed, which results in a loss of iron.

Information from County Courier Times By: JO CIAVAGLIA Bucks