English journalist and presenter Deborah James died on Tuesday, 28, aged 40 after a sixyear battle with colon cancer. She has worked in recent years to raise awareness of the signs of the disease so people can know about it and catch cases as early as possible.
Deborah was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2016 at the age of 35. In May this year, after undergoing numerous treatments, she announced that her condition was incurable and that she was receiving palliative care at home.
Credit: Reproduction/Instagram/bowelbabeDeborah James worked to get people to understand the warning signs of colon cancer
Colon cancer includes tumors that start in the part of the colon called the large intestine and in the rectum (end of the intestine just before the anus) and anus. It is also known as colon and rectum or colon cancer.
The chances of recovery are greater if they are caught early, before they spread to other organs.
signs of colon cancer
One of the main signs of the disease can be seen in the stool. If there is blood, it is important to conduct an examination.
This sign was widely popularized by Deborah James. In her awareness campaign, she always urged everyone to check their poop.
However, it is important to note that bleeding in the stool can have various possible causes, such as hemorrhoids, worms, and stomach ulcers. Therefore, an examination is necessary for the correct diagnosis and specific treatment.
- Changes in bowel habits
Another sign that it’s important to tell the doctor is a change in bowel habits that lasts three weeks or more, such as going to the toilet more or less frequently and having softer stools. This is especially important if there are signs of blood in the stool.
This was one of the first signs the presenter noticed before discovering the disease. She attributed more frequent trips to the toilet to increased wine consumption, a new job and stress.
The results of the initial blood tests and stool samples led the doctor to suspect that she had irritable bowel syndrome. But the symptoms worsened over the months.
Credit: Reproduction/Instagram/bowelbabe Changes in bowel habits should also be considered
The presenter also noted that she was losing weight. At the time, she sought help from a colonoscopy specialist, who diagnosed her with cancer in 2016.
This symptom is less common than the others, but it’s important to take it into account. If you don’t have an obvious cause, you should point it out to the doctor.
Colon cancer that causes bleeding can cause the body to lack iron. When a person develops anemia, they are likely to feel more tired than normal.
Other symptoms of colon cancer
The National Cancer Institute (INCA) also lists the following signs to look out for:
- Change in stool shape (very thin and long stool)
- abdominal mass (tumor)
- abdominal pain or discomfort
According to INCA, early detection can be carried out through clinical, laboratory, endoscopic or radiological examinations.
In addition to screening, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that countries screen people over the age of 50 for colon and rectal cancer by testing for occult blood in the stool.