Colon cancer is very rare in children; however, anyone no matter what age who has chronic unexplained constipation (difficulty having bowel movements), abdominal distention (bloating of the belly) and bleeding from the rectum (where poop leaves the body) should see their health care provider and get checked. People who have a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or ulcerative colitis are at a higher risk for developing colon cancer.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.