Early Signs of Colon Cancer You Should Not Ignore and What to Do Next

As an integrative dietitian and somatic psychotherapist who works closely with women navigating  gut issues, inflammation, hormones,  weight loss and fatigue, I want to be honest with you.  So many of us wait too long to investigate symptoms that seem mild or just a phase. We are often too busy, disconnected, and simply not taught how to listen to our bodies. And when it comes to colon care, which is becoming more of a concern, especially in younger people, we are not being told what to look out for.

Colon cancer is on the rise, with Australian having the highest incidence of colon cancer in the world... and yet the early signs are easy to overlook. That delay can be dangerous.

I recently heard a story from a fellow practitioner about a 27 year old man who kept being dismissed by doctors because he was too young. By the time they found the colon cancer, there was nothing more they could do. That is heartbreaking. And it is not uncommon, boy the stories I have heard in my career ... And so this latest fuck up has inspired me to do this blog.

This post is not here to scare you. It is here to empower you. To help you recognise the signals and take action early, even when the symptoms seem small or easy to explain away. You simply cannot take the chance anymore. Not with everything going on in the world. Not after the physical and emotional stress of COVID and the chemical onslaught we are exposed to everyday.

Early Signs of Colon Cancer to Pay Attention To

These symptoms can appear long before a diagnosis is made. Even if you are only experiencing one of them consistently, please do not brush it off. Your body is always communicating with you,  it is up to us to listen.

Changes in bowel habits

• You may notice that you are going more or less often than usual. Sudden constipation or diarrhoea that does not settle is a sign that something may be out of balance in your gut and needs addressing.

Feeling like you still need to go

• This sensation of incomplete bowel movements can be frustrating and is often dismissed. But if it is happening regularly, it is worth exploring.

Bloating, gas or cramps that do not ease

• If you are eating a nourishing organic diet, higher in quality fibre and lower in saturated fat and protein and still experiencing bloating or discomfort that persists throughout the day, it is time to dig deeper and get help for an integrative GP or dietitian.

Blood in your stool

• This may appear as bright red streaks or as dark, tar-like stools. Either form needs to be assessed, even if it happens only occasionally as this can be strong indicator of inflammation, ulcerative colitis, Chron's disease and cancer in the absence of haemorrhoids.

Unexplained weight loss or changes in appetite

• If you are losing weight without trying or finding that your hunger levels have dropped significantly, look for underlying inflammation and malabsorption. This is a big red flag for cancer... please go get checked.

Fatigue or low energy without a clear cause

• When tiredness begins to impact your daily life but does not seem to match your schedule or workload, it could be related  to toxicity, low iron, B12 and many other nutrient deficiencies as they never happen in isolation, or gut and systemic inflammation.

Thin or ribbon-like stools

• A noticeable change in the shape of your stool, especially if it stays that way  can indicate a narrowing in the colon that should be investigated. This could be due to inflammation or a colon obstruction.

Nausea or vomiting

• When there is no obvious reason for ongoing nausea or vomiting, it may reflect nutrient deficiencies especially magnesium, zinc and B6, hormonal imbalances, gut and system inflammation. Also trauma medical or accident can cause nausea.

Iron deficiency anaemia

• Many women experience low iron, but if you are not menstruating regularly and still have low iron stores, it may be due to internal blood loss in the gut that has gone unnoticed, fibroids or an active disease process.
  

Most of these signs can show up with other conditions too like IBS, hormone imbalance, nutrient deficiencies, inflammation, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), LIBO (large intestinal bacterial overgrowth), Dysbiosis and more. And precious time can be lost in the diagnosis process. I have seen doctors fluff around for years before a proper diagnosis is made. Its a difficult and time consuming process but here is what you can to do to get on top of it strait away.

What to Do If You Notice These Symptoms

See your GP and ask for a proper gut screening. This includes testing for :

• H pylori- a bacterial infection that grows in your stomach
• PCR Multicomplex stool sample- to look for bacterial infections in your colon
• Digestive enzymes test - lipase, elastase etc
• Fecal Calprotectin to rule out colon inflammation
• Occult blood stool test to rule out upper GI bleeding
• Add bloods such as plasma zinc and copper, urinary iodine, iron studies, retinol, B12 plasma and RBC, folate to the standard routine full blood count as well as a comprehensive autoimmune screen.
• In addition ask for a colonoscopy and gastroscopy referral to check out the entirety of your gastro intestinal tract. This is usually done last resort, but I strongly recommend you don't wait and start with this. This can rule out any gut cancers, and honestly peace of mind and lasting health is worth more than the discomfort and money paid.

Please note all these bloods are covered by Medicare and your doctor should bulk bill you for this. You are paying your taxes after all. And yes... you may need to push your doctor to give you these referrals, as most GPS they are stressed, overwhelmed and can't realistically properly help you in a 10 minute consultation. Our disease care system is a flop that is failing many of us, so you need to be aware of this. But at least now you know what to ask for.

How I Support You Through This Process

I am holistic and work with the whole body, mind, emotions and energy looking to address the root cause and create personalised strategies for your unique organism. Overall I use:

• Microbiome and specialised testing and symptom assessment to uncover root causes
• Nutrition that supports gut healing and reduces inflammation
• Emotional and nervous system support to address stress related gut issues (somatic psychology)
• Personalised lifestyle strategies that restore balance and resilience

Everyone is unique and what you get depends on what you need. For more help please visit www.ancavereen.com and book your appointment online.

Hope to connect soon ... and please get tested if you have doubts!!!!

Book your appointment now.