Direct answer: The early signs of colon cancer are often mild: blood in stool, a lasting change in bowel habit, tiredness from low blood count, and unexplained weight loss. Most people with these signs have piles or another common cause, but a colonoscopy is the way to be sure. Finding a problem early gives treatment its best chance. Dr Raman Garg checks and treats these problems in Bathinda, Punjab, India.
First, a calm word
Reading about cancer is frightening, so let us be clear. Most blood in stool comes from piles or a small tear (fissure). Most constipation comes from diet and water. These signs do not mean you have cancer.
But they should not be ignored either. A sign that stays for more than a few weeks deserves a test. A colonoscopy can look at the whole large bowel, and it can also remove small growths before they cause trouble. Many bowel cancers begin as small growths called polyps, and these usually grow slowly over several years. That slow start is exactly why checking early helps.
The early signs
| Sign | What you may notice |
|---|---|
| Blood in stool | Red blood on or mixed with stool, or dark, black stool |
| Change in bowel habit | New constipation or loose motion that lasts more than 3 to 4 weeks |
| Narrow stool | Stool coming out thin like a pencil, again and again |
| Feeling not clear | Sense that the bowel is not empty even after passing stool |
| Belly discomfort | Cramps, bloating or pain that does not settle |
| Tiredness and paleness | Low blood count (anaemia) from slow, hidden blood loss |
| Weight loss | Losing weight without dieting or fasting |
Picture a 55 year old truck driver from Giddarbaha. For two months he has had a feeling that his bowel never empties, and he has noticed a little blood. He assumes it is piles because his uncle had them. He may be right. But two months of change at 55 is the time for a colonoscopy, not another round of chemist medicines.
Who should be extra careful
- Anyone above 45 with any of the signs above
- A parent, brother or sister who had colon or rectal cancer or polyps
- Long-standing ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
- A diet low in fibre and high in fried and processed food, with little activity
- Tobacco, heavy alcohol and being overweight
Even with none of these, a new bowel change that lasts is worth a visit. Younger people can be affected too, so age alone should not give false comfort.
Red flags: same-day hospital care
Go to hospital the same day for heavy bleeding from the back passage, black stool with dizziness or fainting, severe belly pain with vomiting and a swollen belly, or no stool and no gas for a day with pain. These can mean heavy bleeding or a blocked bowel. Call +91 82641-60001, our 24/7 emergency care support, on your way. See also blood in stool: causes and when to worry.
How the check is done
- Consultation. Dr Raman Garg asks about your signs, duration, family history and past illness, then examines you, including the anal area.
- Blood tests. Haemoglobin shows hidden blood loss. A CEA test is sometimes used to follow a known cancer, not to screen healthy people.
- Colonoscopy. A thin flexible camera looks at the whole large bowel. You are given sedation, and most patients go home the same day. Polyps can be removed during the test, and any suspicious spot is sampled (biopsy).
- Scan. If a growth is found, a CT scan, arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, checks whether it has spread. Dr Raman Garg reviews the report the same day.
A frequent question is, "Is colonoscopy painful?" Most patients feel little because of sedation. The clean-out the day before is the part people dislike. Full steps are in colonoscopy: who needs it and how to prepare.
| Test | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OPD consultation | 500 | 700 | 1,000 |
| Colonoscopy, diagnostic | 4,500 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
| Colonoscopy with biopsy or polyp removal | 7,000 | 10,000 | 18,000 |
| CEA tumour marker | 500 | 650 | 1,000 |
| Biopsy report, per sample | 800 | 1,500 | 3,000 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on the number of tests needed, biopsy or polyp removal done during the test, and your health.
If a growth is found
First, you will not be left to face it alone. Dr Raman Garg explains in plain words what was found, how far it has gone, and what each option means. The plan depends on the type and stage of the disease, and your general health.
For many colon growths, surgery to remove the affected part of the bowel is the main treatment. It can often be done by keyhole (laparoscopic) technique, which means smaller cuts and, for most patients, an earlier return to walking. After surgery, the removed tissue is examined to decide whether any further treatment is needed. That is advised by the treating team and is not part of the surgery cost below. Full details are on our colon cancer surgery page and our GI cancer surgery page.
| Procedure | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colon cancer surgery (laparoscopic or open) | 1,00,000 | 1,80,000 | 3,00,000 |
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on stage of disease, type of procedure chosen, and your health. Cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy, radiation) is not included in surgery figures.
Habits that help lower the risk
- Eat more vegetables, salad, dalia and whole pulses; cut back on deep-fried and processed meat
- Walk 30 minutes a day and keep your weight in check
- Stop tobacco and gutka; keep alcohol low or stop
- Do not ignore blood in stool just because you have had piles before
- If a close relative had bowel cancer, ask your doctor when to begin colonoscopy
Cashless insurance
Tests and surgery can be covered. Our insurance desk arranges pre-authorisation with Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance, Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Digit Insurance, Medi Assist TPA and almost all other major insurers and TPAs. Read cashless insurance for gastro treatment.
Patients from your town
People travel for this check from Barnala, Giddarbaha and across the Malwa belt of Punjab. You can WhatsApp earlier reports and get advice before you travel. Browse all gastro treatment in Bathinda.
When to see a doctor (box)
Book a visit if blood in stool or a new bowel change lasts more than 3 to 4 weeks, or sooner if you are above 45 or have a family history. Do not wait for pain; early bowel problems often cause little or no pain, so a quiet bowel is not proof that all is well. This post is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Raman Garg, Surgical Gastroenterologist, Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Power House Road, Near Street No. 10, Bathinda, Punjab 151001. OPD Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM. Last updated: 8 November 2026.