Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsEarly SignsRegional CancerAdvanced Cancer
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Table of Contents
Early Signs
Regional Cancer
Advanced Cancer
Colon cancercan cause poop (stool) changes such as blood in the stool and stools that are looser and more frequent. People with colon cancer may also have other symptoms such as abdominal pain.
These symptoms are common in other gastrointestinal conditions and don’t necessarily mean you have colon cancer. It is also important to remember that some people do not have any symptoms, and it is possible to have healthy/normal-looking poop with colon cancer.
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
This article will help you understand the relationship between colon cancer and poop, what signs to look for, and what to do if you recognize symptoms of colon cancer.
Colon Cancer Symptoms
Colon Cancer and Poop: Early Signs
One of thefirst signs of colon canceris a change in poop or in bowel habits. Stool with colon cancer can look thinner and have a different consistency and color than typical stools.
Arguably, more than any other symptom, unexplained changes in the appearance or movement of stool should raise concerns about colon cancer, particularly if the symptoms persist or worsen.
A Word From Verywell
—JAY N. YEPURI, MD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD
Some of the subtle warning signs of colon cancer in the early stages can include:
How Colon Cancer Is Diagnosed
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Poop Changes in Regional Colon Cancer
The development of scar tissue andstricturescan eventually causebowel obstruction, either partial or complete. Bleeding tends to be greater, although it can’t always be seen in the stool itself.
Does Poop Smell Different With Colon Cancer?Foul-smelling stool can be a sign of a medical problem,but because there are many possible conditions that can cause this, it is not possible to identify colon cancer based on stool odor. Researchers are working on technology that can identify colon cancer based on the odor of stool, but these types of changes can be too subtle for human noses to detect.
Does Poop Smell Different With Colon Cancer?
Foul-smelling stool can be a sign of a medical problem,but because there are many possible conditions that can cause this, it is not possible to identify colon cancer based on stool odor. Researchers are working on technology that can identify colon cancer based on the odor of stool, but these types of changes can be too subtle for human noses to detect.
How Colon Cancer Is Treated
Poop Changes in Advanced Colon Cancer
In this stage, poop may look black and tarry. Also known asmelena, this is more often seen with right-sided cancer. It happens ashemoglobinin the blood reacts with oxygen during its long passage toward the rectum.
Other symptoms can include:
In some cases,bowel perforationcan occur as the tissues are stressed and eventually rupture. Other symptoms can develop due to the spread of cancer to the liver, chest, bone, and other common sites of metastasis.
Although people with stage 4 colon cancer are more likely to develop symptoms, not everyone does. In fact, in the absence of obstruction, perforation, or active bleeding, many people with metastatic colon cancer can be entirely asymptomatic.
When to Call 911Call 911 or seek emergency care if you develop the following:Heavy rectal bleedingSevere abdominal pain and crampingRigid abdominal musclesFever and chillsVomitingCool, clammy skinRapid heartbeatThese could be signs ofperitonitis, a potentially life-threatening condition associated with intestinal perforation.
When to Call 911
Call 911 or seek emergency care if you develop the following:Heavy rectal bleedingSevere abdominal pain and crampingRigid abdominal musclesFever and chillsVomitingCool, clammy skinRapid heartbeatThese could be signs ofperitonitis, a potentially life-threatening condition associated with intestinal perforation.
Call 911 or seek emergency care if you develop the following:
These could be signs ofperitonitis, a potentially life-threatening condition associated with intestinal perforation.
Causes of Sticky Poop and When to Seek Care
Summary
Colon cancer can cause changes in the color, consistency, and frequency of your poop. These changes can include blood in the stool,narrow or flat stools, more frequent bowel movements, and diarrhea. In advanced stages, poop may become black and tarry.
What to Expect With a Colonoscopy
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer signs and symptoms.Park SH, Song CW, Kim YB, et al.Clinicopathological characteristics of colon cancer diagnosed at primary health care institutions.Intestinal Res. 2014;12(2):131-8. doi:10.5217/ir.2014.12.2.131Wilson MJ, Dekker WT, Harlaar JJ, Jeekel J, Schipperus M, Zwaging JJ.The role of preoperative iron deficiency in colorectal cancer patients: prevalence and treatment.Int J Colorectal Dis. 2017;32(11):1617-24. doi:10.1007/s00384-017-2898-1Park JW, Baek DH, Lee SJ.Multiple polypoid lesions in the sigmoid colon.Gastroenterology. 2020;158(3):482-484. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.09.021American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2020-2022.Noel RJ.Chapter 382: Upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Kline MW, ed.Rudolph’s Pediatrics. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Riihimäki M, Hemminki A, Sundquist J, et al.Patterns of metastasis in colon and rectal cancer.Sci Rep.2016;6:29765. doi:10.1038/srep29765Xu Z, Becerra AZ, Fleming FJ, et al.Treatments for stage IV colon cancer and overall survival.J Surg Res. 2019;242:47-54. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.034
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer signs and symptoms.Park SH, Song CW, Kim YB, et al.Clinicopathological characteristics of colon cancer diagnosed at primary health care institutions.Intestinal Res. 2014;12(2):131-8. doi:10.5217/ir.2014.12.2.131Wilson MJ, Dekker WT, Harlaar JJ, Jeekel J, Schipperus M, Zwaging JJ.The role of preoperative iron deficiency in colorectal cancer patients: prevalence and treatment.Int J Colorectal Dis. 2017;32(11):1617-24. doi:10.1007/s00384-017-2898-1Park JW, Baek DH, Lee SJ.Multiple polypoid lesions in the sigmoid colon.Gastroenterology. 2020;158(3):482-484. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.09.021American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2020-2022.Noel RJ.Chapter 382: Upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Kline MW, ed.Rudolph’s Pediatrics. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Riihimäki M, Hemminki A, Sundquist J, et al.Patterns of metastasis in colon and rectal cancer.Sci Rep.2016;6:29765. doi:10.1038/srep29765Xu Z, Becerra AZ, Fleming FJ, et al.Treatments for stage IV colon cancer and overall survival.J Surg Res. 2019;242:47-54. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.034
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer signs and symptoms.Park SH, Song CW, Kim YB, et al.Clinicopathological characteristics of colon cancer diagnosed at primary health care institutions.Intestinal Res. 2014;12(2):131-8. doi:10.5217/ir.2014.12.2.131Wilson MJ, Dekker WT, Harlaar JJ, Jeekel J, Schipperus M, Zwaging JJ.The role of preoperative iron deficiency in colorectal cancer patients: prevalence and treatment.Int J Colorectal Dis. 2017;32(11):1617-24. doi:10.1007/s00384-017-2898-1Park JW, Baek DH, Lee SJ.Multiple polypoid lesions in the sigmoid colon.Gastroenterology. 2020;158(3):482-484. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.09.021American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2020-2022.Noel RJ.Chapter 382: Upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Kline MW, ed.Rudolph’s Pediatrics. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3Riihimäki M, Hemminki A, Sundquist J, et al.Patterns of metastasis in colon and rectal cancer.Sci Rep.2016;6:29765. doi:10.1038/srep29765Xu Z, Becerra AZ, Fleming FJ, et al.Treatments for stage IV colon cancer and overall survival.J Surg Res. 2019;242:47-54. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.034
American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer signs and symptoms.
Park SH, Song CW, Kim YB, et al.Clinicopathological characteristics of colon cancer diagnosed at primary health care institutions.Intestinal Res. 2014;12(2):131-8. doi:10.5217/ir.2014.12.2.131
Wilson MJ, Dekker WT, Harlaar JJ, Jeekel J, Schipperus M, Zwaging JJ.The role of preoperative iron deficiency in colorectal cancer patients: prevalence and treatment.Int J Colorectal Dis. 2017;32(11):1617-24. doi:10.1007/s00384-017-2898-1
Park JW, Baek DH, Lee SJ.Multiple polypoid lesions in the sigmoid colon.Gastroenterology. 2020;158(3):482-484. doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2019.09.021
American Cancer Society.Colorectal cancer facts & figures 2020-2022.
Noel RJ.Chapter 382: Upper and lower gastrointestinal bleeding. In: Kline MW, ed.Rudolph’s Pediatrics. McGraw-Hill Education; 2018.
Porporato P.Understanding cachexia as a cancer metabolism syndrome.Oncogenesis.2016;5:e200. doi:10.1038/oncsis.2016.3
Riihimäki M, Hemminki A, Sundquist J, et al.Patterns of metastasis in colon and rectal cancer.Sci Rep.2016;6:29765. doi:10.1038/srep29765
Xu Z, Becerra AZ, Fleming FJ, et al.Treatments for stage IV colon cancer and overall survival.J Surg Res. 2019;242:47-54. doi:10.1016/j.jss.2019.04.034
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