Time for a gut check.
About 150,000 Americans are diagnosed annually with colorectal cancer, which occurs when cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control.
While colorectal cancer is traditionally linked to older adults, diagnoses among younger people have skyrocketed in recent years. A whopping 20% of cases in 2019 were in people younger than 55, up from 11% in 1995.
Because of the troubling trend, the US Preventive Services Task Force updated its colorectal cancer screening guidelines in 2021 to lower the recommended age to start screening from 50 to 45 for adults at average risk.
You can also be vigilant about symptoms at home. Dr. Cedrek McFadden, a colorectal surgeon based in South Carolina and medical adviser to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, shared five signs you should never ignore.
“Bottom line: If something feels off, trust your gut — literally — and talk to your doctor,” McFadden told The Post.
Changes in bathroom habits
“If you notice persistent diarrhea, constipation or a change in the shape, size, consistency or frequency of your stool, don’t simply brush it off as stress or diet changes,” McFadden said.
For example, pencil-thin poop may indicate a tumor near the end of the colon or lining its inside.
Blood in the stool
“Bright red or dark-colored blood is a big flag to not ignore,” McFadden warned. “This isn’t normal, and you shouldn’t wait to get it checked out.”
Rectal bleeding is a symptom of several conditions besides colon cancer, such as hemorrhoids, anal fissures, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticular diseases and certain sexually transmitted infections.
Unexplained weight loss
While many people might be happy to lose weight, a retiree who was diagnosed with colorectal cancer at 66 recalled that he steadily shed pounds over the holidays without effort.
He finally made an appointment when his wife said, “You are literally melting away before my eyes. What’s it going to take to get you to go to the doctor?”
“If the pounds are falling off without you trying, this could mean something’s wrong in your digestive system,” McFadden said.
Persistent abdominal discomfort
“Pain, cramping or bloating that doesn’t go away could be a sign of something serious,” McFadden noted.
About 15% of the patients at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center mention pain as one of their colon cancer symptoms — it’s been described as an “intermittent crampy feeling” in their stomach.
Fatigue
“If you’re always tired and can’t pinpoint why, it might be due to anemia,” McFadden shared.
A low red blood cell count, also known as anemia, is present in 30% to 75% of colorectal cancer patients.
Anemia may be a sign that a tumor in your digestive tract is bleeding.
