Colorectal cancer (CRC)

Symptoms

Symptoms of colorectal cancer

• a change in bowel habits in the form of constipation, diarrhea, or a decrease in stool volume for several days;
• rectal bleeding with bright red blood;
• persistent feeling of the need to empty the intestines;
• dark or black stools;
• stomach ache;
• general weakness;
• unintentional weight loss.

CRC may not cause symptoms for a long time.

CRC can often bleed into the digestive tract with normal stool color. With prolonged blood loss, the number of red blood cells decreases, so sometimes the first sign of colorectal cancer is a blood test that reveals anemia.

Some people may have signs that the cancer has spread to other organs: an enlarged liver, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or sclerae), respiratory failure if the lungs are affected.

Many of the symptoms can be caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, or irritable bowel syndrome.