04/27/2026
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month is a worldwide awareness campaign focusing on the education, prevention, and early diagnosis of bowel cancer with the goal of informing people about the risk factors, symptoms, and available screening options for bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer in many countries throughout the world. It can affect anyone, but the risk increases with age; however, younger adults are also being diagnosed more frequently, so awareness is important for all age groups. When diagnosed early, more than 90% of bowel cancer cases can be treated successfully.
Early Diagnosis and Screening: Screening is one of the most effective ways to detect colorectal cancer early. Early recognition and diagnosis significantly increase survival rates. When to begin screening varies based on family history of bowel cancer or polyps. Recently the age to begin screening was changed to age 45.
Ways to Reduce Your Risk: Adopt healthy lifestyle habits including eating a high-fiber, low-fat diet, limiting red and processed meats such as lunch meat/bacon, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, and moderating or limiting alcohol consumption.
Common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer:
-A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
-A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one
-Re**al bleeding with bright red blood
-Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black
-Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain
-Weakness and fatigue
-Unintended weight loss
Colorectal cancers can often bleed into the digestive tract. Sometimes the blood can be seen in the stool or make it look darker, but often the stool looks normal. But over time, the blood loss can build up and can lead to low red blood cell counts (anemia). Sometimes the first sign of colorectal cancer is a blood test showing a low red blood cell count.
Signs of colorectal cancer that has spread:
Some people may have signs that the cancer has spread to the liver with a large liver felt on exam, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes), or trouble breathing from cancer spread to the lungs.
Do colon polyps cause symptoms?
Most people with polyps will not have any symptoms. However, some people may have symptoms from polyps, such as:
-Bleeding from the re**um:
-Change in stool color, either red or black
-Change in bowel movement, either prolonged constipation or diarrhea
-Low red blood cell count due to low iron (iron deficiency anemia)
-Abdominal (belly) pain
These symptoms can also be due to other causes, such as foods, medicines, or other medical conditions. If these symptoms are present, you should discuss further with your doctor.
If you have signs or symptoms :
Many of these symptoms can be caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, or irritable bowel syndrome. Still, if you have any of these problems, it’s important to see your doctor right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.
Article By Karin Schwan, APRN-NP-C, CDCES
