4 Early Warning Signs of Colon Cancer
No matter what kind of cancer you have, the earlier you catch it, the better.
Unfortunately, some types don’t present many obvious warning signs in their earliest stages. Instead, they fly under the radar until it’s too late to stop them.
Colon cancer falls into this category.
It’s treatable IF caught early enough (which is why getting a routine colonoscopy is so critical).
But scientists have finally identified four early warning signs of colon cancer that we should ALL be looking for. Knowing them could literally SAVE your life.
Colon cancer has been making headlines lately. Cases are declining overall. But this stealth cancer has had a sharp INCREASE in people under 50.
Researchers analyzed data from 5,000 people who developed early-onset colon cancer (meaning they were diagnosed before age 50).
They identified four vital warning signs that showed up from 3 months to two years BEFORE diagnosis:
- abdominal pain
- rectal bleeding
- diarrhea
- iron deficiency anemia
Having just one symptom DOUBLES the risk of developing this killer. Two raises the risk by 3.5 TIMES. Three or more symptoms send the risk of a colon-cancer diagnosis soaring by 6.5 TIMES.
If you have ANY of these symptoms, it’s time to schedule an appointment with your doctor.
When the researchers reviewed the data, they discovered that many of these patients had one or more of these concerning symptoms for YEARS before they were diagnosed.
This could explain why colon cancer tends to be more advanced when younger folks are diagnosed.
People under 50 are not screened as regularly as those over 50.
While prioritizing your own health, also be sure to share this news with any close friends and family who may fall into that younger age range.
The climbing colon-cancer death toll makes it clear that early screening—and watching for warning signs like these—is VITAL.
P.S. Research has uncovered a culprit that increases your risk of colon cancer by nearly 30 percent. It’s something you’ll want to avoid, no matter your age. CLICK HERE to reveal the culprit.
SOURCE:
“Red-flag signs and symptoms for earlier diagnosis of early-onset colorectal cancer,” JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2023;, djad068, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djad068
