Spotting Colorectal Cancer Early: Symptoms You Can't Ignore

Amanda Fitzpatrick didn’t have a family history of colorectal cancer, so she wasn’t overly concerned when she noticed blood in her stool. Her first thought was that she had a hemorrhoid. But the bleeding worsened. 

“It was really dark and there was a large amount,” Fitzpatrick said. “I thought, this isn’t normal. The blood  was so dark and I knew that if it were just a hemorrhoid, it wouldn’t be that dark.”

She made an appointment to see her primary care provider who then sent her to the emergency department. She was later admitted to the hospital where she spent the night preparing for a colonoscopy, which included polyps removal. 

But that wasn’t the end; the margins weren’t clear. Fitzpatrick was referred to Jessica Croley, MD, Medical Director, Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care. She was diagnosed with rectal cancer. They did  provide a chest CT scan and MRI out of precaution. Thankfully, it had not spread.

Fitzpatrick was a candidate for a procedure called the transanal minimally invasive surgery to remove the remaining cancer.

Qualifying for that surgery meant Fitzpatrick’s cancer was caught early, said Kathleen Martin, MD, Saint Joseph Medical Group – Gastroenterology. “That is one of the nice things – if we catch it early, we can avoid such an involved treatment.”

Dr. Martin stressed that the goal of screenings and regular colonoscopies is to prevent the kind of wake-up call that Fitzpatrick, 47, received through the blood in her stool. She said there is also a new blood test that can detect the presence of some polyps for those who are uncomfortable with at-home stool tests that require sending a stool sample.Tests like these are only appropriate for people who are not having symptoms or a history of polyps.

Symptoms include anemia, signs of fatigue,  shortness of breath, unrelenting abdominal pain, a change in bowel habits and any significant bleeding.She pointed out that a change in bowel habits is a last line signal and consistent abdominal pain is a sign of advanced cancer. “Most gas type pains or stomach cramps come and go, but if it’s cancer, it’s there all the time,” Dr. Martin said.

 “A lot of time,” she said, “people want to presume that bleeding is from hemorrhoids but we need to check them out.”

Fitzpatrick is glad she listened to her instincts, and encourages others to do the same. “Definitely listen to your body straight out the gate. Moms are the worst because we have so many people to take care of,” she said. “If it’s something that is not a normal function of your body, touch base with your doctor.”

For Fitzpatrick, her diagnosis was a wake-up call. “I’m 47; I still have a lot of life to live and I want to make sure I have the best quality of life,” she said.

She’s changed her diet and, for the most part, has cut out alcohol.

Fitzpatrick has found herself saying yes to more things, with her family. “We’re just doing all the fun things … just spending more time as a family and doing family-oriented things together has really been nice.”

Dr. Martin said lifestyle changes are helpful for everyone in preventing colorectal cancer. “We are seeing an increased risk (of colorectal cancer) with obesity and smoking, and then family history,” she said. “What we usually recommend as a healthy diet is the Mediterranean diet.” 

African-Americans have a higher risk for colorectal cancer, as do those who practice a sedentary lifestyle or those diagnosed with diabetes, she said. The key, she said, is to pay attention to your body and get the recommended screenings by age and risk factor.

“Colon cancer is preventable if we do colonoscopies and remove polyps,” she said.

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