What does colorectal cancer look like?

When a small polyp grows and eventually turns cancerous, the process usually takes many years.  Polyps are small collections of abnormal cells.  When polyps are left undetected and untreated, they can reproduce to form masses of extra tissue known as cancerous tumors. When cancer is present in the colon or rectum, the condition is known as colon cancer or colorectal cancer.

The illustration below demonstrates the growth of a tumour. You can see how the tumour begins to encroach on healthy tissue and colon, bleeds, and eventually spreads to other parts of the body.

There are often no obvious symptoms in the early stages of CRC. However, there are warning signs which could indicate progression of the disease.  These may include blood in the stool, persistent change in bowel habits (constipation, diarrhea or both), narrow stools, feeling of needing to empty your bowels but with little stool evacuated or a feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely, unexplained weight loss, or chronic fatigue.  If you have any of these symptoms, speak to your doctor today.  It could save your life.