The symptoms of colorectal cancer in men include narrowed or ribbon-like stools, bright red or dark colored blood in the stool, pain in the abdomen or groin, distension in the abdomen and unusual weight loss. Other symptoms include constipation, diarrhea, persistent nausea, bloating and cramps. Tumors in the colon might cause profuse bleeding or grow large enough to create a blockage or obstruction of the large intestine. Other non-cancerous conditions in the large intestine, such as spastic colon, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Crohn's disease, diverticulosis and ulcerative colitis, might produce similar symptoms. Anyone who is in doubt about the symptoms of colorectal cancer in men should consult a doctor or medical professional.
In some cases, cancerous growths in the colon might cause a slow loss of blood over time, which might lead to iron deficiency anemia. This anemia might cause weakness, fatigue and even shortness of breath. Cancerous tumors in this part of the body can cause partial or complete bowel obstructions, resulting in symptoms such as a narrow stool, constipation, pain in the abdomen, bloating, diarrhea and cramps. The presence of bright red blood within the stool might be a sign of a tumor or growth near the last section of the colon or even the rectum.
Tumors in this area of the body can grow quite large before causing any symptoms. Rarely will pain occur with colorectal cancer until the tumor is quite large. Large cancerous growths or tumors might tear through the lining of the bowel and allow bowel contents to seep into surrounding tissue, causing inflammation or infection.
There are a many non-specific symptoms of colorectal cancer in men. Colorectal cancer might be present in the body for several years before any type of symptoms show up at all. Sometimes a simple change in the frequency of daily bowel movements, the make-up of a bowel movement or a feeling that the colon is not completely empty might indicate a more serious problem. The symptoms of colorectal cancer in men will differ depending on where the tumor or tumors are located within the large intestine or rectum.
A person should seek immediate medical care when excessive amounts bright red blood appear in the stool, toilet bowl or on the toilet paper after a bowel movement. Although some people mistakenly attribute bright red blood to hemorrhoids, profuse bleeding from the rectum is one of the most obvious symptoms of colorectal cancer in men. A fecal occult blood test might be administered to indicate the amount of hidden or unseen blood that is present in the stool.