Symptoms:

The development of symptoms in colorectal cancer may be subtle and could initially be mistaken for less serious conditions. Common symptoms include changes in bowel habits, such as diarrhea or constipation, that persist for more than a few days; rectal bleeding or blood in the stool; persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas, or pain; a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely; weakness or fatigue; and unexplained weight loss. Early detection through screening is crucial as symptoms often appear only in advanced stages.

Man, I never really thought much about colon cancer until a buddy of mine got diagnosed. He kept having these stomach pains, right? Thought it was just something he ate or whatever. But then he started losing mad weight without trying and saw blood in his stool. That freaked him out enough to see a doctor, which probably saved his life. Turns out he caught it kinda early, lucky for him.

Main Risk Factors for Colon and Colorectal Cancer:

Colon and colorectal cancers are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Major risk factors include age, with a significant increase in risk after age 50; a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps; a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease; and lifestyle factors such as a diet high in red meat and processed meats, physical inactivity, obesity, and heavy alcohol consumption. Additionally, smoking also increases the risk.

Oh, you’re talking about colon cancer? Heard that’s the stuff that gets you in your guts, yeah? People say you shouldn’t eat too much red meat or stuff like that. And something about smoking? I dunno, man, just seems like everything’s bad for you these days. But yeah, it’s like when you start seeing blood where it shouldn’t be, that’s when you gotta worry and maybe see a doctor.