Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer or rectal cancer, is a condition that starts from the colon or rectum. It happens when the cells in the colon or rectum proliferate out of control. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in the country. Hence, you must know the symptoms and go for the necessary screenings to catch the disease early.
Here are some telltale signs of colon cancer you must not ignore.

1. Rectal bleeding
This is probably one of the most common telltale signs of colon cancer. If you notice blood in the stool, toilet bowl, or toilet paper, tell your doctor immediately. The blood is usually bright red or dark maroon. The bleeding will be more than that caused by a small cut or hemorrhoids. Even if the bleeding is intermittent, you must talk to your doctor about it.

2. Abdominal pain
There may be times when the tumor causes a blockage or tear in the abdomen. Hence, you may experience pain, cramps, and associated discomfort. The pain can be dull or sharp, depending on the condition. Most of the time, people with colon cancer have an extremely tender abdomen and may experience sharp pain, nausea, and vomiting.

3. A sudden but unproductive urge to use the washroom
This is also known as tenesmus. You may have the feeling of emptying your bowels, but no stool passes when you go to the washroom. This can happen because of tumors in the rectum or colon.

4. Narrow stools
If your stools are thinner than before, it may be because of colon cancer. Healthcare practitioners often refer to this as a change in stool quality. You may also experience other changes in bowel habits, such as constipation.

5. Anemia
Anemia is also one of the telltale signs of colon cancer. Bleeding of colon tumors causes iron loss in the body. You may not be aware that you are losing blood because of colon cancer, but a routine blood test will show that you are anemic. Hence, if your hemoglobin levels are low and you are experiencing other symptoms of colon cancer at the same time, you must tell your doctor.

6. Unexplained or sudden weight loss
This is a common and easily noticeable sign of any type of cancer. If you are eating enough but still losing weight, it can be because of cancer. The condition brings about many changes in your body, which may prevent your body from absorbing the nutrients it gets from foods. Hence, you experience sudden and unintended weight loss, weakness, dizziness, fatigue, and other symptoms.

These are some of the common telltale signs of colon cancer that you must watch out for. If you have a family history of the condition or other risk factors, you must get regular screenings done from the age of 45. As a majority of colon cancers arise from colon polyps, early detection and removal of these polyps during a routine screening can prevent them from growing into cancer.