This sensation can have many causes, including constipation, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammation, and other gastrointestinal conditions.
However, persistent changes in how bowel movements feel or occur should be discussed with a healthcare professional.
It is particularly important to pay attention when this symptom occurs together with rectal bleeding, changes in stool appearance, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, or a prolonged change in bowel habits.
Why Early Detection Matters
One of the biggest challenges with colon cancer is that it may develop silently.
A person can feel completely healthy while abnormal cells are developing in the colon or rectum. This is why screening is so important.
Screening can sometimes detect cancer before symptoms appear. It can also identify certain precancerous growths, such as polyps, which may be removed before they become cancerous.
