Colon Cancer Stool Sample Colon Cancer Unhealthy Stools Pictures
These tests check the stool feces for signs of cancer.
Colon cancer stool sample colon cancer unhealthy stools pictures. Other symptoms of colon cancer besides blood mixed with feces. However it could also be an indication of other health conditions such as anal fissures inflammatory bowel disease diveticular bleeding hemorrhoids and colon cancer or colon polyps. Colon cancer affects both men and women and all racial and ethnic groups. Things like internal hemorrhoids anal fissures rectal polyps or rectal cancers can all do this said nelson.
Unexplained weight loss unexplained fatigue loss of appetite pencil thin or ribbon like stools feeling a need to void even after bowel. These tests can be divided into 2 main groups. More than 90 of cases occur in people over age 50. The most common tumor markers for colorectal cancer are carcinoembryonic antigen cea and ca 19 9.
Red stool it is normal to be alarmed with red colored stools and it normally happens after consuming red colored foods. If you find blood in your stool either by itself on the toilet paper in the water or streaked in the stools this can indicate a bleeding source from the anal canal or a low rectal source. Symptoms of colon cancer may not be present or be minimal and overlooked until it becomes more severe. Black stools melena are much less common overall but are more likely to come with colon cancer than is red fresh looking blood.
Several tests can be used to screen for colorectal cancer see american cancer society guideline for colorectal cancer screening. Blood usually but not always can be detected through a fecal occult hidden blood test in which samples of stool are submitted to a lab for detection of blood. Colorectal cancer cells sometimes make substances called tumor markers that can be found in the blood. Colorectal cancer also called colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the u s.
You may also have a blood test to check your liver function because colorectal cancer can spread to the liver. Screening is the process of looking for cancer in people who have no symptoms. Cancer screening tests for colon cancer thus are important in individuals 50. 25 2016 healthday news tests for blood in the stool can consistently detect colon cancer when used on an annual basis and they are effective even in the second third and.