The main manifestations of right colon cancer

Colon cancer is a common malignant tumor of the digestive tract, which often occurs in the rectum and the junction of the rectum and sigmoid colon.

The right colon cavity is enlarged, and the stool in the intestine is liquid. The cancer in this section of the intestine is mostly ulcerative, rarely annular stenosis, and rarely obstruction. However, the cancer often ruptures and bleeds, secondary infection, accompanied by toxin absorption, so the patient may have abdominal pain, stool changes, abdominal mass, anemia, weight loss or cachexia.

1. Abdominal pain and discomfort: About 75% of patients have abdominal discomfort or dull pain, which is intermittent at first and then becomes continuous, often located in the right lower abdomen. The symptoms are very similar to those of chronic appendicitis. If the tumor is located in the hepatic flexure and the stool is dry and hard, colic may also occur, which should be distinguished from chronic cholecystitis. About 50% of patients have loss of appetite, fullness, belching, nausea and vomiting.

2. Stool changes: In the early stage, the stool is thin, contains pus and blood, and the frequency of defecation increases, which is related to the formation of cancer ulcers. When the tumor volume increases, it affects the passage of stool, and diarrhea and constipation may occur alternately. At first, the amount of bleeding is small, and as the colon moves and mixes with the stool, it is not easy to see with the naked eye, but the occult blood test is often positive.

3. Abdominal mass: More than half of patients can find abdominal mass when they see a doctor. This mass may be the cancer itself, or it may be a mass formed by extraintestinal infiltration and adhesion. The former has a regular shape and clear outline; the latter has an irregular shape. The mass is generally hard in texture, and once secondary infection occurs, it is limited in movement and tender.

4. Anemia and cachexia: About 30% of patients develop anemia due to continuous bleeding from cancer rupture, and experience weight loss, limb weakness, and even systemic cachexia.