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Attention, chocolate lovers: You may not be able to help yourselves. Swiss and British scientists have linked the widespread love of chocolate to a chemical "signature" that may be programmed into our metabolic systems.
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Colorectal Cancer - Colorectal Cancer

Symptoms & Signs

What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

The colorectal tumor can bleed into the inside of the bowel. Symptoms may include:

rectal bleeding

dark stools called melena, caused by blood in the stools

anemia, which is a low blood cell count, from blood or iron loss

changes in bowel habits, such as the frequency of bowel movements

smaller stools

mucus discharge from the rectum

vague abdominal distress

gas pain

hemorrhoids, which are dilated blood vessels in the rectal area

A tumor can narrow or block the bowel. It can also perforate the bowel, causing infection or bleeding into the abdominal cavity. When colorectal cancer spreads to other sites in the body, it can cause:

liver cancer

jaundice

pain in the liver

loss of appetite and weight loss

lung cancer

Rarely, swollen lymph nodes are a sign of colorectal cancer. Unusual health problems sometimes associated with colorectal cancer include:

thrombophlebitis, an inflammation in the veins of the lower leg

unusual syndromes that change skin coloring

muscle problems

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