How to distinguish between the symptoms.
We all have digestive problems from time to time. Maybe you indulged in a little too much cheese one night or aren’t getting enough fiber in your diet — or you’re consuming too much — and you’re feeling a little plugged up.
While these kinds of issues can be uncomfortable and embarrassing, you might not want to brush them off as your average stomach ache or chalk them up to a past irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) diagnosis. There are a lot of similarities between colorectal cancer and digestive diseases like IBS. For starters, they both share symptoms like abdominal pain and constipation. If you’ve ever been up at night wondering if your constant bowel movements might be something bigger than a sensitive system, we feel your pain.
To better understand how the two conditions differ, we’re comparing the warning signs and symptoms below.
Colon cancer is more common than you think
Colorectal cancer is a term used to describe both colon and rectal cancer, both of which affect the large intestine. Even though most of these cancers start as non-cancerous lesions called polyps, some don’t — so it’s important to get them detected early in case you need to get them removed.
“It’s a much rarer event for people to have a polyp that has cancer in it,” Sophie Balzora, MD, president and co-founder of The Association of Black Gastroenterologists and Hepatologists (ABGH), tells Katie Couric Media. “So that’s why colonoscopies are so effective because you can actually prevent colon cancer or colorectal cancer from occurring because you remove that pre-cancerous benign polyp before it becomes colorectal cancer.”
Colon cancer is more common than you might think: Other than skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the U.S. (and the world), according to the World Health Organization. While a majority of cases happen in those 50 and above, the number of people under 55 years of age being diagnosed with colon cancer has dramatically increased from 11 percent in 1995 to 20 percent in 2019, according to the American Cancer Society. And it looks like this is slated to only get worse — by 2030, these cases are expected to nearly double, and colorectal cancer will become the leading cause of death for people aged 20 to 49.
What are the common symptoms of colon cancer?
The scary part is you may not even know you have colon cancer. “Most people with colon cancer have no symptoms at first — this is why screening is so important,” Donald Karcher, MD, professor of pathology at George Washington University, tells us.
But even when they do develop, the symptoms can seem subtle and mirror those of an upset stomach or IBS, like more frequent constipation or diarrhea.
One major sign our experts never ignore is rectal bleeding. While it could just be hemorrhoids or inflamed veins, she points out that “blood in the stool is always concerning, especially if the person hasn’t had a recent colonoscopy.” Due to this bleeding, you might become anemic or iron deficient, meaning you don’t have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues.
What are the symptoms of IBS?
IBS is an intestinal disease that can cause changes in bowel habits.
IBS is hard to diagnose because it can’t be seen. The main symptoms are constipation, diarrhea, or a combination of the two, accompanied by abdominal pain. You might also experience the following:
- Bloating
- Mucus in stool
- Incomplete bowel movements
- Relief of symptoms after a bowel movement
- Excess gas
Keep in mind, the two diseases are not connected, and having IBS doesn’t increase your risk of colon cancer. However, some cancer treatments can disturb your stomach. Unlike inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), IBS does not cause inflammation, which is a key factor in colorectal cancer risk.
How do you know you have colon cancer — and not just IBS?
In a survey conducted by the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 67 percent of respondents saw at least two physicians before being properly diagnosed with the disease, and some saw as many as four. So, to avoid what could be a detrimental misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis, it’s important to keep in mind that colon cancer symptoms can be mistaken for something like IBS.
While it can be difficult to distinguish the two, colon cancer has other alarming signs, such as sudden weight loss. “If you’re losing weight without making any major dietary or exercise changes, that can be abnormal,” says Dr. Balzora. “That’s something that should be formally evaluated to figure out why it’s happening.”
Additional colon cancer symptoms include:
- A change in the shape of your stool, where it may suddenly become thin and resemble a pencil
- Fatigue (likely due to iron deficiency)
- A change or sudden loss in appetite
Judy Trieu, MD, who specializes in interventional endoscopy, says that a lot of these concerning symptoms might not be cancer, but it’s best to err on the side of caution and consult your doctor if you’re experiencing digestive issues. “In the end, these symptoms are vague and should be further characterized by a medical professional to determine whether a colonoscopy should be performed to rule out colon cancer,” she says.
How can you protect yourself from colon cancer?
Getting regular screening tests — or colonoscopies — is key to preventing your chances of getting colon cancer. These are generally recommended for all adults, starting at age 45. During the procedure, doctors go into the rectum with cameras to look for any potentially cancerous tumors or lesions.
Beyond tests and screenings, there are also some things you can start doing today. Dr. Trieu recommends making sure you’re eating a balanced diet and leading an active lifestyle. This includes exercising regularly and limiting your intake of processed foods, such as boxed, canned, and pre-packaged foods. She also advises eating “a balanced diet of high fibers, fresh vegetables and fruits, and whole grain.” Precautions and changes like these can be life-saving at most, and at the very least, your non-cancerous stomach issues could improve.
