Colon cancer. do you always have to have blood seen in your stools?

Not always: Rectal bleeding can happen in almost 40-50% cases. Other symptoms that can happen include abdominal pain , change in bowel habits, weakness , anemia without other gastrointestinal symptoms, weight loss. Sometimes, colon cancer also can happen without having any significant symptoms-but is found during colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is very important screening test. Do not wait until you see bleeding.

No: However, blood in stool should definitely be a flag. That is why colonoscopy is being recommenced as a screening tool....To find cancer before they cause obstruction or bleed enough to be detected. Screening criteria are always changing with the research. Your doctor will guide you.

No, almost never: Most of the time there is no visible blood in stools with colon cancer. There may be so called occult blood that requires a test on the feces.