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4. Unintentional Weight Loss
Losing weight without intentionally changing your diet or activity level should not be ignored.
Unexpected weight loss can occur for many reasons, including:
- Digestive disorders
- Thyroid disease
- Diabetes
- Chronic infections
- Reduced appetite
- Other medical conditions
Cancer is only one possible cause, but unexplained weight loss—particularly when combined with bowel changes, abdominal discomfort, or fatigue—should be medically evaluated.
5. Persistent Loss of Appetite
A temporary reduction in appetite can happen after an illness or during periods of stress.
But a noticeable loss of appetite that continues for weeks, especially when accompanied by weight loss or digestive symptoms, deserves attention.
Don’t try to diagnose the cause yourself. A healthcare professional can consider your symptoms together with your medical history and determine whether further testing is necessary.
These Symptoms Don’t Always Mean Cancer
This is important to remember.
Having one or more of these symptoms does not mean you have colorectal cancer.
Hemorrhoids, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, food intolerances, infections, and many other conditions can produce similar symptoms.