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Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor originating from the epithelial lining of the colon or rectum and is one of the most common cancers in the digestive system. It is more common in people over the age of 50, particularly those with long-term high-fat, low-fiber diets, a history of colon polyps, chronic colitis, or a family genetic history. Men are slightly more affected than women.
Globally, the United States, Germany, and Japan are high-incidence countries, while Southeast Asian nations such as Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines have seen a significant rise in recent years. Early symptoms of colorectal cancer are mild and often mistaken for hemorrhoids or colitis, while advanced stages may present with intestinal obstruction, metastasis, and other severe complications that threaten life.
Stage I: Localized lesion, good treatment outcome
The tumor is confined to the mucosa or submucosa and has not invaded the muscle layer or lymph nodes. Clinical symptoms are not obvious, with only some patients experiencing minor changes in bowel habits. The 5-year survival rate after surgical resection exceeds 90%.
Stage II: Local invasion, no lymph node metastasis
Cancer cells have penetrated the intestinal wall but have not yet spread to lymph nodes. Symptoms may include bloody stool, abdominal bloating, or mild abdominal pain. The 5-year survival rate is about 75%, and surgery combined with adjuvant chemotherapy is the main treatment approach.
Stage III: Regional lymph node metastasis
Cancer cells have spread to nearby lymph nodes, symptoms worsen, and patients may experience difficulty in defecation, mucus in stool, or abnormal bowel sounds. The 5-year survival rate decreases to 50%, requiring systemic chemotherapy and cellular immunotherapy.
Stage IV: Distant organ metastasis, poor prognosis
Cancer cells have metastasized to distant organs such as the liver and lungs, accompanied by severe weight loss, fatigue, and symptoms of intestinal obstruction. The 5-year survival rate is less than 15%, and palliative radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy are often used to control the disease.
1. Changes in bowel habits
This is one of the earliest and most common warning signs of colorectal cancer. Patients may experience increased or decreased bowel frequency, irregular bowel timing, difficulty defecating, a frequent urge to defecate without complete evacuation, and even multiple unsatisfactory bowel movements in a day.
2. Abnormal stool characteristics
Colorectal cancer affects the smooth passage of the intestines, leading to thinner, irregularly shaped stools, sometimes pencil-shaped. Stools may also be foul-smelling, contain mucus, or appear dark red or bright red with blood, which should not be simply attributed to hemorrhoids.
3. Persistent abdominal pain or bloating
Some patients experience unexplained persistent abdominal bloating, especially more noticeable after meals, often mistaken for indigestion. Right-sided colon cancer often presents as dull or distending pain, while left-sided cancer more often causes cramp-like abdominal pain.
4. Alternating diarrhea and constipation
Tumor blockage disrupts bowel motility, causing alternating episodes of diarrhea and constipation. Patients may experience frequent diarrhea over a short period followed by long-term constipation, with highly irregular patterns.
5. Blood or mucus in stool
Because the tumor surface easily ulcerates, defecation causes friction and bleeding. Early signs include intermittent blood streaks or stool mixed with mucus, while advanced cases may show persistent bleeding with dark-colored, heavy stool.
6. Loss of appetite and nausea
Disruption of intestinal function affects digestion, leading to loss of appetite, nausea, or even vomiting. This severely impacts nutritional absorption and overall health, serving as the body’s "SOS signal."
7. Significant weight loss and fatigue
Tumors consume large amounts of body nutrients, combined with absorption issues, causing rapid weight loss in a short time. Sudden weight loss without dieting or exercise should raise high suspicion. These patients often also suffer from fatigue and poor concentration.
8. Intestinal obstruction symptoms
In advanced stages, tumors may completely block the intestinal lumen, leading to severe abdominal bloating, cessation of gas and stool passage, and intense abdominal pain. This requires emergency surgery and is one of the life-threatening complications of colorectal cancer.
9. Anemia and pale skin
Chronic blood loss leads to anemia, manifested as pale complexion, palpitations, dizziness, and easy fatigue. Women are particularly prone to mistaking this for menstrual irregularities, delaying appropriate treatment.
10. Liver discomfort or jaundice
If cancer spreads to the liver, symptoms may include discomfort in the right upper abdomen, loss of appetite, and yellowing of the skin. These signs are mostly seen in advanced patients and signal a poor prognosis.
Colorectal cancer symptoms are diverse and often subtle, easily confused with common gastrointestinal conditions. Experts at United Life International Medical Center emphasize that anyone experiencing changes in bowel habits, blood in stool, abdominal pain, or unexplained weight loss should undergo timely colonoscopy and tumor marker screening. Early detection and treatment, along with new strategies such as immune reconstruction cell therapy, can improve prognosis and survival quality.
