• Otter@lemmy.ca
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    1 month ago

    http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/screening/colon/who-should-screen

    Where I’m located, screening is recommended for people 50 years old and above. Check the recommendations and process for your location (or ask your primary care doctor when you can).

    Also note that if you’re already having symptoms like the post mentions:

    Screening is only recommended for people who are not experiencing symptoms that may indicate colon cancer. Symptoms can include blood in your stool, abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, or unexplained weight loss. If you are experiencing these symptoms, talk to your health care provider about a referral for diagnostic testing to determine the cause of these symptoms.

    • Anamnesis@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      It’s worth noting for everyone who might be reading this that blood on your toilet paper is 99.9% of the time from hemorrhoids or wiping too much, not from colon cancer. You’re looking for dark stool and all these other symptoms, not a tiny amount of bright red blood on your toilet paper.

      • ThirdWorldOrder@lemm.ee
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        1 month ago

        And the rest of the symptoms listed can be literally anything. I remember experiencing some symptoms and looked it up and of course everything says cancer. Went to three different doctors and the only thing they really said is that I have an anxiety problem lol.

        I don’t look up symptoms anymore.

      • Zorsith@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 month ago

        IIRC it’s not so much the color of the stool as it is the texture; grainy/gravelly texture implies internal bleeding