Four early symptoms of colorectal cancer

Common symptoms warning of the risk of early-onset colorectal cancer, under 50 years old, include abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and iron deficiency anemia.

This is the result of a study by Washington University School of Medicine (USA) when analyzing health insurance data of more than 5,000 colorectal cancer patients under 50 years old. The study was published in early May in the journal of the US National Cancer Institute .

Researchers found that these four symptoms appeared as early as three months to two years before a patient was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, accounting for about 19%. Nearly 50% of patients noticed their first symptoms within three months of diagnosis. According to Associate Professor Yin Cao (Washington University School of Medicine), colorectal cancer does not only affect the elderly. Young people should also pay attention to these symptoms, even if they have a low risk.

According to the study, the more symptoms a person has, the higher the risk of colorectal cancer. Rectal bleeding and iron deficiency anemia are among the most worrisome symptoms. A person who notices two or more of these symptoms should seek screening.

Abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of colorectal cancer in people under 50 years old. Photo: Freepik — Abdominal pain is one of the symptoms of colorectal cancer in people under 50 years old. Photo: *Freepik*

Medical Director Anton Bilchik (Saint John's Cancer Institute, USA) shared in Health , most malignant tumors in young patients are on the left side of the large intestine. If it is on the left side, bleeding and anemia may be more obvious than on the right side. Recent research from the American Cancer Society also showed that malignant tumors on the left side are more common when diagnosing early-onset colorectal cancer. The rate of rectal cancer increased from 27% in 1995 to 31% in 2019 in the US, despite better prevention of left-sided colorectal cancer through screening.

Cancers in the lower part of the colon are more likely to cause symptoms because the stool is more formed and has less fluid, says Alan Harzman, MD, of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. A person may notice bleeding on toilet paper or in the toilet bowl.

People who are not yet old enough to be screened for colorectal cancer may ignore symptoms of abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, and anemia, which can increase the risk of the disease in its advanced stages. In addition to colorectal cancer, these symptoms warn of other digestive health problems such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Some people may mistake bleeding from colorectal cancer for hemorrhoids, especially those who have had hemorrhoids for a long time.

Colorectal cancer in people under 50 is on the rise, and is often detected late. According to doctors, if a young person has abdominal pain, diarrhea, or rectal bleeding, it is very unusual. It could be irritable bowel syndrome, cancer, or other problems. Don't ignore these symptoms, even if you are young.

Kim Uyen (According to Health )

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