Rectal cancer is a relatively common type of cancer, but its early symptoms are generally not obvious and are easily overlooked or mistaken for ordinary digestive system issues. Therefore, understanding the early symptoms of rectal cancer is very important, as it can help people detect the disease early, undergo early treatment, and improve the cure rate.

First, the earliest symptom usually involves bright red blood during bowel movements. This type of bleeding is temporary and may only occur once or twice. However, if ignored, colon bleeding may gradually increase, and the color may become darker red.

Second, changes in bowel habits are also one of the early symptoms of rectal cancer. As the disease worsens in the colon, there may be noticeable changes in bowel habits, and unusual stools may appear, such as black stools or the presence of mucus.

Third, as rectal cancer progresses further, pain may spread to other areas surrounding the colon. This is because rectal cancer can affect and damage the surrounding organs to varying degrees, leading to the spread of pain. Additionally, rectal cancer can cause narrowing of the intestinal passage, leading to bowel obstruction and resulting in systemic symptoms, such as anemia, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, and indigestion.

Fourth, abdominal pain is also a common early symptom of rectal cancer. Rectal cancer often presents with noticeable abdominal pain, which may be intermittent and occur sporadically. In severe cases, the pain may even wake the patient.

It should be noted that the early symptoms of rectal cancer are generally not very typical. Therefore, only when the symptoms mentioned above appear is it necessary to seek further medical examination and diagnosis. Early detection of rectal cancer can greatly improve the success rate of treatment. In addition to regular colonoscopy, maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle can also help reduce the risk of developing rectal cancer.