Which of the following is a cancer warning sign involving the digestive system?

• A. Nonhealing Sore
• B. Weight Gain
• C. Change In Bowel Patterns
• D. Nagging Cough

Answer: (C)

A change in bowel patterns is a cancer warning sign that points to the digestive system because a tumor in the colon or rectum can disrupt how stool forms, moves, and is eliminated. Ongoing changes such as persistent diarrhea, constipation, a feeling of incomplete evacuation, a change in stool caliber, or blood in the stool signal that something in the digestive tract isn’t normal and deserves medical evaluation. These kinds of bowel changes are commonly linked to colorectal cancers, especially when they persist for several weeks and aren’t explained by diet or infection.

Other options relate to other body systems: nonhealing sores can indicate cancers outside the digestive tract, weight gain isn’t a typical red flag for cancer (weight loss is more common), and a nagging cough points to the lungs or respiratory system.