Colon Carcinoma at 40x Magnification

As is generally the case with cancers, colon carcinoma is easiest to treat and is associated with the best prognosis whenever the disease is diagnosed early in its development. Unfortunately, symptoms of colon cancer do not usually appear until the disease is significantly advanced, and even then are generally non-specific so that individuals may not immediately seek medical attention. Diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, and appearance of blood in the stool are typically among the first signs that something is wrong. Later, jaundice, fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites), and shortness of breath may develop as well. Typically colon cancers are several centimeters in size by the time symptomatic evidence and testing result in a diagnosis.