Colon cancer is a type of cancer found in the large intestine. This condition may start as benign tumors but later develop into malignant tumors that cause cancer. It is one of the most curable cancers that affects both men and women. Mentioned below are the causes and symptoms of colon cancer.

Symptoms of colon cancer
The early stages of colon cancer do not show any symptoms usually. Symptoms tend to show up when cancer progresses and depend on the size and location of the tumor. Some of the symptoms are:

• A change in the pattern of your bowel movements. You can have diarrhea or constipation and the consistency of your stool can also vary. It is important to consult a doctor if you are experiencing this for more than 4 weeks.
• Seeing streaks of blood in the stool. This could be due to rectal bleeding. The stool can also appear to be darker in color.
• The feeling that your bowel is not completely cleared most of the time.
• Discomfort like cramps, pain, or gas in the abdominal area.
• Persistent fatigue and weakness.
• Unexplained weight loss.

Causes of colon cancer

• Genes
  Cell division is the primary function that happens in the body and is responsible for the growth and maintenance of the tissues. But, if the DNA in the cells has a gene with an error, it results in uncontrolled cell division. These cells, unlike normal cells, do not die and instead clump together forming a tumor. With time, these cells also have the ability to metastasize to other parts of the body. Inheriting these genes does not necessarily mean you are sure to have cancer, it only means that the risk of developing cancer is high.
• Polyps
  Polyps are uneven growth of cells in the wall of the large intestine. They are harmless until they turn cancerous. The two types of polyps are adenomas — which do not appear on the wall of the intestine but are visible under the microscope and cause cancer, and hyperplastic polyps — which are visible on the wall of the intestine but do not turn into cancer.
  This is the reason as to why doctors recommend regular screening to remove any polyps that may give rise to cancer.
• Age, habit, and diet
  Colon cancer is mostly diagnosed in people who are above the age of 50. About 91% of the cases of colon cancer occur in people who are well above that age limit. Therefore, it is important to go for a regular health check-up routine by the age of 45.
  Your lifestyle is another crucial reason for you to be at a high risk of developing colon cancer. People with a sedentary lifestyle who do not have an exercise routine and suffer from obesity are at high risk of getting cancer.
  Colon health is largely dependent on the food you eat. A diet with no fiber and rich in unhealthy fats, calories, processed food, and red meat puts you at an increased risk of being afflicted by colon cancer. Alcohol and smoking tobacco further manifold the risk.