Is intestinal obstruction an early symptom of colon cancer?

Question

Is constipation a sign of colon cancer? How does it cause this? Due to a bowel obstruction?

Answer 1

No: Usually this is a sign that it is a large cancer that has grown over time and is ending up blocking the colon and causing obstruction.

Answer 2

Sometimes: Obstruction can be a sign of colon cancer, but obstruction can also occur for non-cancer reasons. A common non-cancer reason is adhesions, which are caused usually by scar tissue from previous surgery.

Answer 3

No: This is more commonly a late symptom of colon cancer. It is almost impossible to obstruct for right sided colon cancer. Intestinal obstruction can presnet with a changes in bowel habits or constipation.

Answer 4

No: Hopefully it is more rare with good family practitioners making their patients have adequate health surveillance. Typically they are picked up with these screening endoscopies, blood in stool, weight loss etc. Occasionally you will find a stoic individual who ignores symptoms, or avoids doctors, and thus presents with obstruction instead.

Answer 5

All too often: It is not uncommon for colon cancers to not cause symptoms until they reach a size sufficient to block the lumen of the colon; at this point, people will typically present with cramping abdominal pain, severe bloating, and vomiting. These findings often indicate an advanced cancer that may require emergency surgery (+/-stent). The goal of screening is to find cancers before any symptoms develop.

Is intestinal obstruction an early symptom of colon cancer?

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Is intestinal obstruction a symptom of colon cancer?

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