RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS OF COLON CANCER
Colon Cancer Risk Factors:
Polyps (a noncancerous or precancerous growth associated with aging)
Age
Inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s Disease)
Diet high in saturated fats, such as red meat
Personal or family history of cancer
Obesity
Smoking
Colon cancer symptoms:
A change in bowel habits — constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a couple of weeks.
A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
Bright red or very dark blood in the stool, black stools that may indicate hidden blood.
Stools that look narrower or thinner than normal.
Abdominal discomfort such as frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps.
Weight loss with no known explanation.
Constant tiredness or fatigue.
Unexplained anemia (low number of red blood cells).
