Does colorectal cancer cause anemia?

Does colorectal cancer cause anemia? Iron is the main component of hemoglobin in red blood cells. Long-term blood loss can cause iron deficiency, leading to "iron deficiency anemia". This condition is common in women who lose blood during menstrual cycles. However, doctors remind that if iron deficiency anemia occurs in men or postmenopausal women, they should be careful because it may be a warning sign of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer itself requires a large amount of nutrients to grow, which results in predatory consumption of nutrients, just like a parasite "living" in the body that absorbs our nutrients without hesitation, causing excessive consumption of hematopoietic raw materials and leading to anemia. Secondly, why do patients with colorectal cancer suffer from anemia? The human body's intake disorders and gastrointestinal disorders caused by colorectal cancer lead to insufficient sources of hematopoietic raw materials. This is why patients often have symptoms of loss of appetite. Colorectal cancer patients themselves need rich nutrition, and if they cannot eat normally, their nutrient intake will be limited, which will inevitably lead to anemia.
Long-term chronic blood loss caused by erosion and ulcer bleeding of the surface mucosa of colorectal cancer is the main cause of anemia. However, this chronic blood loss is relatively hidden and difficult to be detected by patients. At this time, this blood loss can be detected by taking some stool for a fecal occult blood test.