The best test for colon cancer is colonoscopy. It's recommended beginning at age 50. If there is a history of colon cancer in your family, this is an important test to have. There are other tests that look for blood in the stool; they are less effective. By the time a person has symptoms, a tumor can be quite large.
At the early stages there may be no symptoms. However common symptoms include blood in the stool, constipation or diarrhea, pencil thin bowel movements, weight loss and loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting or anemia.
Early stage colon cancer has no symptoms. Ask your doctor about testing. Colonoscopy screenings are a must for everyone over the age of 50 or in high risk patients.
Symptoms of colon cancer can include decreased stool caliber, anemia, and blood in the stool. However, these symptoms might not appear until late in the disease.
