Metastatic colon cancer is a cancer that has spread from the large intestines to other areas of the body, like the rectum, liver, lungs and other neighboring organs, as would be seen in the case of stage III and stage IV colon cancer. For most people, the cancer starts as a polyp that later develops into a malignant tumor. Without treatment, the cancerous cells can essentially break through the lining of the colon and invade other areas of the body. Regardless of the stage of the disease, a person often develops signs and symptoms of the condition.
Bowel Changes
One of the most common symptoms of metastatic colon cancer is a change in bowel movements. As the tumor develops, the muscles of the colon experience a disruption in rhythm, contracting either more or less frequent than normal. This often causes a change in the frequency and consistency of your stool, prompting more or less numerous bowel movements that are loose and watery (diarrhea) or dry and hard (constipation). It may also result in the sensation that you're unable to completely empty your bowels.
Bleeding
Often accompanying this change in bowel movements is the presence of blood in the actual stool. In this situation, you frequently notice that your stool is a different color than normal, becoming darker than normal or appearing like the color of tar. For some, their stool may even be bright red in color, another indication of bleeding within the colon.
Gas
It is also quite common for metastatic colon cancer to cause the symptom of gas. When this symptom manifests, it often begins as sense of fullness or bloating that later produces some abdominal pain and cramping. From there, you may experience an increase in flatulence.
Digestive Changes
Along with this gas, many people begin to experience some level of nausea, sometimes causing a person to vomit. It's also not uncommon for the nausea or vomiting to affect a person's appetite. However, as the cancer advances, it often prompts a person to suffer from an unexplained loss in weight. Though your appetite has changed, it isn't a result of food intake. It is actually due to the caloric intake of the cancerous cells, causing your body to burn more calories than normal.
Fatigue
Besides symptoms involving digestion, many people begin to suffer from fatigue or exhaustion. This is partly due to the toll the cancer is taking on your body, but also from the deprivation of calories.
Jaundice
When the cancer has metastasized to the liver, it can cause you to experience jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin and eyes. This is an indication that your liver is starting to fail. Often accompanying this jaundice is a swelling within the feet, ankles and legs.
Respiratory Disruptions
When the cancer has metastasized to the lungs, as happens with colon cancer, you can begin to experience respiratory disruptions, including a shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing or the production of sputum containing blood. You may also start to experience some pain within the chest.
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