Serious Warning Signs Of Bowel Cancer

Urge To Strain Even After A Bowel Movement

An individual who frequently feels the urge to continue straining even after they have had a bowel movement may be affected by bowel cancer. The nerves in the colon and rectum transmit signals to the brain when there is a solid substance that needs to be excreted. The brain sends signals back to the colon and rectum that tell it to hold the stool until the individual is ready to excrete it. Cancer in the bowel eventually grows to the size where it can cause these signals to be sent to the individual's brain inappropriately. The nerves sense the presence of a solid substance in the intestine due to the malignant tumor. A patient may not know if their urge to have a bowel movement is because of stool presence, or if their bowel tumor is the cause of the sensation. The best way patients can determine if they have this symptom is when they feel the urge to have a bowel movement right after they have already had one. Some may even experience the involuntary contraction of the rectal muscles as a result of being unable to distinguish between the urge to strain from stool or the cancerous tumor.

Diarrhea

Cancerous cells that grow and invade the bowel tissues can form a solid tumor that produces an obstruction in the large intestine. A partial obstruction can cause the stool to remain in the large intestine for too long. In a healthy individual, the perfect amount of fluid is absorbed from the stool as it moves through the large intestine before it is excreted. However, the large intestine will absorb too much fluid from the individual's stool if it is not excreted in a timely manner because of the partial obstruction by growing tumor cells. Cancerous cells in the bowel can also cause extensive damage to the lining of the large intestine. The lining of the large intestine is specially made to be able to absorb fluid from the stool as it is moving through it. Cancerous cells that cause extensive damage to this specialized lining can reduce the amount of fluid that can be absorbed from the stool. When the stool is too watery due to damage from bowel cancer, the patient will experience diarrhea.