Colorectal cancer history and symptoms

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To view the history and symptoms of familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), click here
To view the history and symptoms of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Saarah T. Alkhairy, M.D.; Elliot B. Tapper, M.D. Usama Talib, BSc, MD [2]

Overview

The history of a patient with colorectal cancer may include a family history of polyps/colorectal cancer or a history of inflammatory bowel disease. Some symptoms that are associated with colorectal cancer are change in bowel habits, hematochezia, and rectal pain. Metastatic symptoms include dyspnea, abdominal pain, fractures, and confusion.

Colorectal Cancer History and Symptoms

Colon cancer often causes no symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage. When symptoms do occur, they depend on the site of the lesion. Generally speaking, the nearer the lesion is to the anus, the more bowel symptoms there will be, such as:

• Change in bowel habits

• Change in frequency (constipation and/or diarrhea)
• Change in the quality of stools
• Change in consistency of stools

• Hematochezia or bleeding per rectum
• Mucus in stools
• Abdominal cramps or discomfort
• Melena (usually associated with upper gastrointestinal disease)
• Tenesmus (usually associated with rectal cancer)
• Diminished caliber of stools (usually associated with rectal cancer)
• Rectal pain (usually associated with rectal cancer)
• Past medical history of longstanding inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, another primary cancer, or renal transplantation
• Family history of polyps or colorectal cancer
• Smoking and/or alcohol
• Low fiber/high fat diet and/or red meat diet
• Sedentary lifestyle

Constitutional symptoms

The constitutional symptoms of colorectal carcinoma include:

• Nausea/vomiting
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unexplained loss of appetite
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Palpitations

Metastatic symptoms

There may be symptoms attributed to distant metastasis:

• Lungs
  • Dyspnea
  • Cough with blood-stained sputum
  • Persistent pain or discomfort in the chest
• Liver
  • Abdominal pain
  • Swelling of hands or feet
  • Itching
  • Jaundice
  • Dark-colored urine
• Bones
  • Pain
  • Fractures
• Brain/spinal cord
  • Pain
  • Confusion
  • Memory loss
  • Headache
  • Blurred or double vision
  • Difficulty with speech
  • Difficulty with movement
  • Seizures
• Oral Cavity
  • Gum pain
  • Inability to open the mouth

References

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