EAU CLAIRE (WQOW) – March is the month for colon awareness and on Friday people wear blue to raise awareness of the disease.
In the United States, colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women, but it can be prevented and cured if caught early enough.
Nurse at HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital Michael Lucore said the biggest thing to watch for is weight changes and bowel movements, especially if there is no change in diet and lifestyle.
People should start researching colon cancer in their forties or 50s, but Lucore said it is important to be open and honest with your doctor if you show symptoms earlier.
“You can see and recognize some of the early signs and symptoms of it and have that honest conversation with your doctor,” Lucore said.
HSHS officials say the following are some symptoms of colon cancer:
- Blood in or on the stool
- Recurrent shifts in normal bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation for no known reason
- Thinner of the stool
- Increase in stomach discomfort (bloating, gas, fullness and / or cramps lasting more than a few days)
- A feeling that the bowel is not completely empty
- Weight loss for no known reason
- Constant and unexplained fatigue