Any sudden change in bowel habits from the normal pattern of many years should immediately alert one to the fact that something is wrong. A careful stool examination should be done to rule out the presence of blood and parasites. The rectum and lower bowel should be examined through a sigmoidoscope, for polyps are most likely to occur at the rectosigmoid junction, and many of these are malignant. More than 75% of all colon polyps are accessible through the long tube instrument known as the sigmoidoscope.

Other symtoms requiring immediate investigation are the presence of blood or mucus in the stools, with intermittent cramps in the lower abdomen. These may or may not be related to bowel movement. In all cases it is well to have X-rays as well as a sigmoidoscope examination. This should be repeated every six to twelve months. Once the cancer has gone beyond the local area, it may be too late.

Colon Trouble Treatment:

Surgery is the only reliable method of treatment for cancer within the stomach or bowel. In addition, X-ray therapy and various chemicals may also be tried. However, if nodules of cancer can be felt in the liver or at the base  of the neck, it may be already too late to operate. This known as metastatic carcinoma. Here is one place where early diagnosis and prompt treatment will pay large dividends. From there they are transferred to the mouth and swallowed. They then migrate down to the lower bowel, and thus the cycle continues.