Mayo Doctor Flags 3 Subtle Colon Cancer Signs as 1 in 5 Cases Hit Adults Under 55

3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Aug 14

Dr. Derek Ebner of Mayo Clinic highlighted three less obvious colon cancer warning signs: light-headedness, shortness of breath and a persistent feeling of incomplete bowel emptying.
Slow internal bleeding from colorectal tumors can cause iron-deficiency anemia, he said, leaving patients unusually tired, weak, dizzy or breathless even when no blood is visible in the stool.
The bowel symptom—also called tenesmus or incomplete evacuation—can be mistaken for constipation, hemorrhoids or other benign digestive problems, making persistent new changes worth medical attention.
About 108,860 new U.S. colon cancer cases are expected in 2026, and roughly 1 in 5 colorectal cancers now occur in adults under 55, underscoring the push for earlier detection.

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