Signs and symptoms

We encourage you to get screened, which means getting checked out, before you have any symptoms of colon cancer; however, if you have some of the symptoms below, check in with your health care provider.

• a change in bowel habits (going to the bathroom more or less)
• blood in your stool (either bright red or very dark)
• diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• stools that are narrower than usual
• general abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps)
• unexplained weight loss
• feeling very tired
• vomiting

Having these symptoms does not mean that you have colon cancer, as they could be due to many other health concerns.

Oftentimes, people with colon cancer don’t have any of these symptoms. This is because the lower abdomen has lots of room for the cancerous tumors to grow. Symptoms often appear once the bowel becomes blocked or constricted by the tumor, and sometimes that won’t happen at all.

If you experience symptoms, speak to your health care provider.

Visit cancer.ca for more detailed information about these signs and symptoms.