What are the symptoms of advanced colorectal cancer

Late stage colorectal cancer is often a problem that troubles patients and their families. Because many colorectal cancer patients are diagnosed only in the middle and late stages, mainly because the early symptoms are not obvious. Most patients only take it seriously when the symptoms are more obvious in the middle and late stages. Therefore, most patients who come to the doctor with colorectal cancer symptoms are in the middle and late stages of colorectal cancer.

What are the main symptoms of advanced colorectal cancer ?

1. Changes in bowel habits and stool characteristics : Bloody stools are often the most prominent manifestation, or there may be dysentery-like bloody and purulent stools, tenesmus, which are caused by erosion and necrosis of the lower colon or rectal cancer. Sometimes it manifests as stubborn constipation, and the stool becomes thinner, which is caused by intestinal stenosis caused by the distal colon cancer. It can also manifest as diarrhea and mushy stools, or alternating diarrhea and constipation, with no obvious mucus, pus or blood in the stool, which is mostly caused by intestinal dysfunction caused by the cancer located in the upper colon, erosion on the surface of the tumor, and inflammation.

2. Abdominal mass : The mass is hard, of varying sizes, and has a nodular feel on the surface. It can usually be moved, but becomes fixed in the later stages. There may be tenderness when there is secondary infection. Cancer is more common in the right abdomen, which is one of the manifestations of right-sided colorectal cancer. The height of the mass depends on the location of the cancer. The masses of cecum, ascending colon, and hepatic flexure cancer are located in the right lower, right middle, and right upper abdomen, respectively. The mass of transverse colon cancer can be palpated around the umbilicus. Abdominal masses indicate a large polyp-type cancer or metastasis to organs around the intestine.

3. Rectal lesions : Rectal digital examination can palpate cauliflower-shaped lumps in the intestinal cavity, or ulcers with raised edges and sunken centers, or annular stenosis of the intestinal cavity. The finger gloves are often stained with pus and blood. About half of colorectal cancers are located in the rectum, and most rectal cancers can be palpated during rectal digital examination. Therefore, rectal digital examination is an important means of early detection of rectal cancer and should not be ignored.

4. Abdominal pain : Cancerous tumors often have erosion, necrosis and secondary infection, which increase the peristalsis of the corresponding intestinal segments and intestinal spasms, which can cause abdominal pain of varying nature and degree. It is generally seen in right-sided colorectal cancer, manifested as dull pain in the right abdomen, or involving the right upper abdomen and middle upper abdomen at the same time; postprandial abdominal pain may occur due to the enhanced gastrocolic reflex. The intestinal cavity of the left colon is not as wide as that of the right colon. The intestinal cavity of the sigmoid colon is narrow and forms an acute angle with the rectum, and the feces are already formed in the left colon. Therefore, left-sided colon cancer can easily cause chronic progressive intestinal obstruction, with abdominal colic, accompanied by abdominal distension, hyperactive bowel sounds and intestinal type. Late-stage patients often have persistent pain in the lumbosacral region due to retroperitoneal metastasis and infiltration of the lumbosacral plexus.

5. Systemic symptoms : Late-stage symptoms of colorectal cancer include anemia, weight loss, fever, jaundice, ascites, and cachexia.

The above is an introduction to the late stage symptoms of colorectal cancer. I hope it will be helpful to you. Expert Tips: If you have symptoms of disease, do not delay diagnosis and go to a regular hospital for treatment in time to avoid delaying the disease. If you have any questions about colorectal cancer, please consult our online experts or call for consultation.

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