9. Distended Abdomen: The Visible Yet Overlooked Sign
A distended abdomen might often be attributed to weight gain or bloating, but when it’s related to stage 2 colorectal cancer, it takes on a new level of concern. Not only is the abdomen physically enlarged, but this distention may be accompanied by a sense of heaviness or fullness that simply doesn’t go away.
This symptom serves as an anatomical roadmap of sorts. As the tumor grows, it can push against neighboring organs, displacing them and creating a domino effect that ultimately leads to abdominal distension. This might be one of the more visually apparent signs of something going awry internally, yet it’s often dismissed or misattributed.
Adding a layer of complexity to this is the role of ascites—fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity—which can accompany the tumor’s growth. Ascites is a form of internal landscape alteration; it doesn’t merely occupy space but also changes the dynamics of the surrounding tissue and organs. (9)
