Colon cancer survivors have candidly opened up about how they 'knew' it was time to see a doctor.
The rates of bowel cancer, which colon and rectum cancer falls under, are the fourth most common cancer in the UK, according to Cancer Research. The rates are rising in younger adults across the world, with statistics showing that only one in every 20 cases in the UK happens in people under 50.
Such an increase in cases has been dubbed a 'growing global phenomenon', which is quite alarming, but it is important to note that 54 per cent of cases are preventable - hence why it's so important to be aware of the symptoms as early as possible.
Now, a lot of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can overlap with other medical conditions like Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and even a stomach virus.
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But it's super important you get anything checked out if symptoms 'persist for longer than two weeks', according to gastroenterologist David Richards, M.D.
"That’s particularly true if they’re accompanied by abdominal pain, bloody stools or unintentional weight loss," he told the MD Anderson Cancer Center.
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Diarrhoea
Courtney Nash was just 35 when she was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer.
She had been dealing with chronic diarrhoea, frequent stomach aches and other digestive issues for more than 20 years due to ulcerative colitis.
However, after the birth of her second daughter, Courtney reported that her symptoms 'increased dramatically'.
"I started dropping weight, losing my hair and even passing blood occasionally," she shared.
Constipation
Catherine Wright was also very young when she received a diagnosis, as she was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer at 33.
"I was pregnant with my second child when I began having constipation," she explained. "Each night, I’d wake up with an urgent need to go to the bathroom. But then I’d sit on the toilet, unable to empty my bowels. It was annoying and interfered with my sleep."
This was a similar experience for Jaystan Davis, who was only 19 when he was diagnosed with stage IV colorectal cancer.
"I thought the inconsistent stools I was experiencing were from diet changes I’d made," he said. "I was scared and very confused."
Blood in the stool or toilet bowl
Anatole Karpovs, a paediatrician who was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer at age 37, recalled: "I experienced bloody stools, bowel changes, and abdominal pains for months.
"But as a doctor with a busy practice and a hectic family life, I didn’t have time to be sick. So, I explained away my symptoms or minimised them. It was only later, when they became persistent enough that I couldn’t ignore them, that I finally sought treatment."
Meanwhile, Robert Harris, who was 76 when he was diagnosed with stage III colorectal cancer, added: "I started having dark stools and a little pain in my lower abdomen, so I called my family doctor.
"She thought it might be my appendix, since the pain was on my right side, so she brought me in for a check-up. But then she did a digital exam and said there was blood in my stool."
Unexplained weight loss
"Most people get a bit heavier over the holidays," said Kenneth Rolston, who was 66 when he was diagnosed with stage I colorectal cancer.
However, he noticed he'd been 'losing weight steadily' for about four months by early 2017, but he wasn't trying to, meaning it was an unexpected weight loss.
"I was also experiencing fatigue," Kenneth added.
His symptoms led him to finally arrange an appointment after his wife looked across the dinner table at him one night and said: "You are literally melting away before my eyes. What’s it going to take to get you to go to the doctor?"
Experts urge people not to hesitate to alert their doctor if they notice any of these symptoms.
"Things like diarrhoea and constipation are so general that they could be due to many possible causes," notes Richards.
"None of them necessarily means that you have colorectal cancer. But if a symptom is persistent, rather than a one-time issue, it should at least warrant a conversation with your doctor.
"And, some symptoms, such as rectal bleeding, black stools, and anaemia, should prompt a visit to your doctor, if they haven’t already been evaluated."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
Rhiannon Ingle