What are the clinical manifestations of right colon cancer?

The ileocecal valve of the colon starts and ends at the rectum, between the cecum and the rectum, and is about 1.3 meters long. According to the location, the colon can be divided into the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The right colon mainly refers to the area where the ascending colon is located. The absorption of food is mainly completed in the small intestine. By the time the food reaches the colon and even the rectum, it has become waste for excretion. After people chew their food, it first passes through the small intestine to the right colon, then to the peritoneal colon, and finally to the rectum. When food residues reach the right colon, some liquid is not completely absorbed, and the intestinal contents are liquid at this time. Due to the structure and physiological characteristics of the right colon, the following manifestations may occur when right colon cancer occurs.

1. Changes in stool

In the early stage, the stool is thin, with pus and blood, and the frequency of defecation increases, which is related to the course of cancer ulcers. The tumor volume increases, affecting the passage of stool, and diarrhea and constipation may occur alternately. The amount of bleeding is small, and it is fully mixed with the stool as the colon moves, which is not easy to observe with the naked eye. At this time, the fecal occult blood test is often positive.

2. Abdominal mass

Abdominal masses are the most common manifestation of right-sided colon cancer. The first obvious symptom of about 1/10 patients is the discovery of abdominal masses. Abdominal masses can be caused by the tumor itself or by the tumor invading the intestinal wall or adjacent organs. Because the intestinal cavity of the right colon is wider and the long arm is thinner and more stretchable, when a mass is felt in this area, the tumor is already very large.

3. Abdominal pain

It is also one of the main symptoms of right-sided colon cancer patients. Early patients generally do not have abdominal pain symptoms, or may only have dull pain and distension in the right abdomen after eating.

4. Systemic symptoms

Right-sided colon cancer can cause bloody stools due to invasion of larger blood vessels, but the more characteristic manifestation is chronic anemia caused by long-term chronic hemophagocytosis. Patients often seek medical treatment due to fatigue and dizziness caused by anemia.