However, bleeding piles are commonly Bright in the colon (not maroon). The most common causes are piles, anal fissures, and diverticular disease. Maroon is a darker degree of the red colon, a common sign of colorectal cancer.īleeding per rectum is very common at all ages. So, constipation in older ages is not as suspicious for colon cancer as diarrhea.Įither way, your doctor is the best person to evaluate your symptoms and risk and decide what is best for you. However, the onset of chronic idiopathic constipation is also more common in ages older than 60. Other symptoms and signs are suggestive of colon cancer.Other risk factors of colorectal cancer.So, we investigated for colon cancer when constipation or hard stool is associated with: For example, chronic idiopathic constipation is a common cause, especially in females. The new onset of chronic or recurrent constipation or hard stools in patients with risk factors for colon cancer must be investigated.ĭiarrhea, constipation, and hard stool are common with early colon cancers but not specific. Hard stools.Įarly stages of colon cancer (such as stage 0 or stage 1) can present with constipation or hard stools. Symptoms of anemia (due to chronic blood loss) include easy fatigue, headache, dizziness, fast heartbeats, shortness of breath on exertion, etc.Progressive weight loss without trying.A sense of rectal mass or incomplete stool evacuation.Other symptoms & signs of colorectal cancer:

Īs gastroenterologists, we consider chronic or recurrent diarrhea after fifty to be a red flag sign.

Eating excess processed or red meat for many years.

Having diabetes mellitus (the longer the duration of diabetes, the more the risk of colon cancer).

Family history of colorectal cancer (especially in the young).

Older ages (90% of the cases of colon cancer occur above the age of 50).

So, diarrhea or loose stool is not looked at separately your doctor will suspect colorectal cancer if the loose stool is associated with other symptoms and risk factors for colorectal cancer.

Associated with other colon cancer symptoms in women or men.

The bowel habits changes are persistent or recurrent over relatively long periods (weeks or months).

We suspect diarrhea as a symptom/sign of colon cancer when: So, when does diarrhea or loose stool mean colon cancer? More than 99% of the cases of diarrhea are Not every loose (mushy) stool or diarrhea is a sign of early colorectal cancer (CRC). However, These changes in the stool are widespread and far from being a specific sign of colon cancer. Loose stool or diarrhea are common early signs of stage one colon cancer. When does loose stool or diarrhea mean early (stage 1) colon cancer? However, the loose stool or diarrhea can be mixed with red or dark blood. The color of loose stool is often light brown or yellowish. Severe watery diarrhea is found in about 17% of patients with colon cancer ( reference). Recurrent or constant watery stool may be the first sign of stage one colon cancer.Īt diagnosis, 75% of colorectal cancer patients present with bowel habit changes (either diarrhea or constipation).

Also, many cases of early-stage colon cancer don’t notice any stool changes.

Chronic or recurrent hard stools or constipation.

Chronic or recurrent loose stools or diarrhea.

The most common stool changes with stage one colon cancer are: Therefore, we will discuss the possible stool changes in the early stages of colon cancer. Stool changes can be one of the first signs of stage one colon cancer.

Picture of pencil thin stool