weird sensation

[pvacc]

Dear Doc,

       I'm a 38 yr old male in good health with no health problems but I am I'd  say about 30lbs overweight. My grand mother had a heart problem and Dad suffered through colon cancer.

     In the last few days I've developed a 'sensation' just above my belt line on my right side that feels like slight pressure. It doesn't hurt nor does it impede me in any way.This feeling I'll feel more while standing and it comes and goes.  Just curious, if there were a tumor developing in my colon would this be a symptom? I have no other symptoms such as dark stool or changing bowels movements etc. If not, could this be some sort of muscle pull?


     Thanks for your help.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi.  The sensation which you described is a non-specific symptom and is not a usual presenting symptom of colon cancer.  Aside from the ones you mentioned such as changes in bowel movement and dark stools (blood in stools), colon cancer may present with abdominal pain and decrease in stool caliber.  If you're bothered by what you're feeling right now, it wouldn't hurt to visit a doctor to have yourself examined.

Since you have a close relative who had colon cancer, it may be wise to have a colonoscopy done to screen for possible cancer by the time you reach 40 years old, and every five years thereafter.