11. Jaundice
Jaundice is a medical term that refers to a condition wherein a person’s skin and eyes (particularly the sclera or the white portion of the eyeballs) become yellowish. While jaundice usually affects people with hepatitis, gallstones and other conditions of the liver and gallbladder, it can also be a sign of colorectal cancer.
When red blood cells breakdown, a yellowish-orange pigment called bilirubin is produced. This pigment is excreted from the body in any of two ways: via urine in the form of urobilinogen which gives pee that yellow color; or via stool in the form of stercobilinogen which gives feces its brown color. However, before bilirubin is excreted via stool, it first becomes metabolized by the liver into bile which is then stored in the gallbladder prior to being released into the gut via the common bile duct
When colorectal cancer spreads systemically to the liver, the resulting tumor can affect the organ’s function, impeding its ability to clear bile normally. The resulting buildup of bilirubin as well as the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream normally filtered out by the liver, ultimately leads to jaundice.
When you notice a yellowing of the skin or the whites of your eyes, make sure to see a doctor immediately so that you can be evaluated as to what is causing it in the first place.
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