Symptoms and treatment of Colon cancer

Description

Colon cancer is a growth of cells that begins in one part of the large intestine, or colon. The colon is the first and the longest part of the large intestine. The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system. The digestive system breaks down the food for the body to use.

Colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age. It usually begins as small clusters of cells called polyps that form on the inside of the colon. Polyps are usually not cancerous, but some can turn into colon cancer over time.

Polyps often does not cause symptoms. For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to look for polyps in the colon. Finding and removing polyps can help prevent colon cancer.

If colon cancer develops, many treatments that can help control it. Treatments include surgery, radiation therapy and medications, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer. This term combines colon cancer and rectal cancer, which begins in the rectum.

Symptoms

Many people with colon cancer do not have symptoms in the beginning. When symptoms appear, it is likely to depend on the size of the cancer and where it is found in the large intestine.

The symptoms of colon cancer may include:

A change in bowel habits, such as more frequent diarrhea or constipation.
Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool.
Ongoing discomfort in the belly area, such as cramps, gas or pain.
A feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way during a bowel movement.
Weakness or tiredness.
Losing weight without trying.

When to see a doctor

If you experience lasting symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with a health care professional.

Causes

The doctors are not certain what causes the majority of colon cancers.

Colon cancer occurs when cells in the colon develop changes in their DNA. One of the cells DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes that indicate cells that multiply rapidly. The changes that we're going to the cells to continue living when healthy cells are killed as a part of their life cycle.

This makes too many cells. The cells may form a mass called a tumor. The cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. At the time, cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of colon cancer include:

Advanced age. Colon cancer can occur at any age. But most people with colon cancer are older than 50 years. The number of people under the age of 50 years who have colon cancer has been increasing. The doctors don't know why.
The black race. Black people in the united States have an increased risk of colon cancer than people of other races.
A personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps. After you have had colon cancer or polyps in the colon increases the risk of colon cancer.
Inflammatory diseases of the intestine. The conditions that are causing the pain and inflammation of the intestines, called inflammatory bowel diseases, may increase the risk of colon cancer. These conditions include ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.
Inherited syndromes that increase colon cancer risk. Some changes in the DNA that increase the risk of hereditary colon cancer. The most common of the inherited syndromes that increase the risk of colon cancer are familial adenomatous polyposis and Lynch syndrome.
Family history of colon cancer. Having a blood relative who has colon cancer increases the risk of developing colon cancer. There is more than one family member has colon cancer or rectal cancer increases the risk.
Low-fiber, high-fat diet. Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a typical Western diet. This type of diet tends to be low in fiber and high in fat and calories. The research in this area has had mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer in people who eat a lot of red meat and processed meat.
Do not exercise on a regular basis. People who are not active are more likely to develop colon cancer. Regular physical activity can help reduce the risk.
Diabetes. People with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.
Obesity. People who are obese have a higher risk of colon cancer. Obesity also increases the risk of dying of colon cancer.
The habit of smoking. People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
The consumption of alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of colon cancer.
Radiation therapy for cancer. Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.

Prevention

The screening of colon cancer

Doctors recommend that people with an average risk of colon cancer, consider the possibility of starting detection of colon cancer is around 45 years of age. But people with a higher risk, you must think about how to start screening earlier. People with a higher risk include those with a family history of colon cancer.

There are different types of tests that are used for the detection of colon cancer. Discuss your options with your health care team.

Lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of colon cancer

Make changes in daily life can reduce the risk of colon cancer. To reduce the risk of colon cancer:

Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains have more vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may help prevent cancer. Choose from a variety of fruits and vegetables for you to get a wide variety of vitamins and nutrients.
Drink alcohol only in moderation, if at all. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink to no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.
Stop smoking. Talk with your health care team about ways to stop smoking.
Exercise most days of the week. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days. If you've been inactive, start slowly, and gradually increase up to 30 minutes. Also, talk with a health care professional before beginning an exercise program.
Maintain a healthy weight. If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, consult with your health care team about healthy ways to achieve your goal. Aim to lose weight slowly by eating fewer calories and move more.

Prevention of Colon cancer for people with a high risk

Some medicines may reduce the risk of colon polyps or colon cancer. For example, some evidence links a reduction in the risk of polyps and colon cancer to the regular use of aspirin or aspirin-like medicines. But it is not clear what dose and for what length of time would be needed to reduce the risk of colon cancer. Take an aspirin every day has some risks, including ulcers and bleeding in the digestive system.

These options are generally reserved for people with a high risk of colon cancer. There is not enough evidence to recommend these drugs to those who have an average risk of colon cancer.

If you have a higher risk of colon cancer, the analysis of risk factors with your health care team to see if preventative medicines are safe for you.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of colon cancer

Tests and procedures used for the diagnosis of colon cancer include:

The use of an endoscope to examine the inside of the colon. Colonoscopy uses a long, thin, flexible tube connected to a video camera and monitor to view the entire colon and the rectum. A doctor can pass the surgical instruments through the tube to take tissue samples, remove polyps.
The removal of a sample of tissue for analysis. A biopsy is a procedure to remove a sample of tissue for testing in a lab. For colon cancer, the tissue sample is often collected during a colonoscopy. Sometimes surgery is necessary to obtain a tissue sample. In the laboratory, the tests can show if the cells are cancerous, and how fast that is growing. Other tests can give you more information about the cancer cells. Your health care team uses the results to understand their prognosis and to create a treatment plan.
Blood tests.Blood tests cannot be used to diagnose colon cancer. But blood tests may provide clues about the health in general, such as the shape of the kidneys and liver are working. A blood test could be used to find a low level of red blood cells. This result could indicate that colon cancer is the cause of bleeding. Cancers of the Colon, sometimes, to make a protein called carcinoembryonic antigen, also called CEA. Blood tests may track the level of CEA over time. The results could show whether the cancer is responding to treatment. After treatment, CEA blood test could detect if the cancer comes back.

Blood tests. Blood tests cannot be used to diagnose colon cancer. But blood tests may provide clues about the health in general, such as the shape of the kidneys and liver are working. A blood test could be used to find a low level of red blood cells. This result could indicate that colon cancer is the cause of bleeding.

Cancers of the Colon, sometimes, to make a protein called carcinoembryonic antigen, also called CEA. Blood tests may track the level of CEA over time. The results could show whether the cancer is responding to treatment. After treatment, CEA blood test could detect if the cancer comes back.

The stages of Colon cancer

After a diagnosis of colon cancer, other tests may be needed to determine the extent of the cancer. This is called the stage of the cancer. The health care team considers that the stage of the cancer when creating a treatment plan.

Staging tests may include imaging scans of the abdomen, pelvis and chest. Imaging tests make pictures of the body. They show the location and size of colon cancer. Often, doctors can't be certain of the stage of the cancer until after the surgery of colon cancer.

Colon cancer stages range from 0 to 4. Lower numbers mean the cancer is found in the inner lining of the colon. In stage 4, the cancer is considered advanced and has spread to other areas of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.

Treatment

Colon cancer treatment usually involves surgery to remove the cancer. Your health care team may recommend other treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Your treatment options depend on the cancer's location and its stage. Your health care team also considers your overall health and your preferences to create a plan of treatment.

Surgery for early-stage colon cancer

The treatment for a very small cancer of the colon could be a minimally invasive approach to surgery, such as:

The removal of polyps during a colonoscopy, it is called a polypectomy. If the cancer is contained within a polyp, removal of polyps can eliminate all of the cancer.
The endoscopic mucosal resection. This procedure can remove larger polyps during colonoscopy. Special tools help to remove the polyp and a small amount of the mucosa of the colon.
Minimally invasive surgery called laparoscopic surgery. This type of surgery can remove polyps that cannot be removed during a colonoscopy. In this procedure, a surgeon performs the operation through several small incisions called incisions in the abdominal wall. The instruments with their corresponding cameras go through the cuts, and show the colon on a video monitor. The surgeon may also take samples of the lymph nodes in the area around the cancer.

Surgery for advanced cancer of the colon

If the cancer has grown into or through the colon, a surgeon may recommend:

Partial colectomy. Surgery to remove part of the colon is called a partial colectomy. During this procedure, the surgeon removes part of the colon that is cancerous. The surgeon also takes a bit of tissue on both sides of the cancer. Often it is possible to reconnect the healthy parts of the colon or rectum. This procedure can often be done by a minimally invasive approach called laparoscopy.
The surgery to create a way for waste to leave the body.Sometimes it is not possible to reconnect the healthy parts of the colon or rectum after colectomy. The surgeon creates an opening in the wall of the abdomen of a part of what is left in the intestine. This procedure, called an ostomy, allows the stool to pass out of the body by emptying into a bag is placed over the opening. Sometimes the ostomy is only for a short time for the colon or the rectum to heal after the surgery. Then, it comes to investing. Sometimes the ostomy can not be reversed and it stays for life.
Removal of lymph nodes. Nearby lymph nodes are usually removed during colon cancer surgery and tested for cancer.

The surgery to create a way for waste to leave the body. Sometimes it is not possible to reconnect the healthy parts of the colon or rectum after colectomy. The surgeon creates an opening in the wall of the abdomen of a part of what is left in the intestine. This procedure, called an ostomy, allows the stool to pass out of the body by emptying into a bag is placed over the opening.

Sometimes the ostomy is only for a short time for the colon or the rectum to heal after the surgery. Then, it comes to investing. Sometimes the ostomy can not be reversed and it stays for life.

Surgery for advanced cancer

When it is not possible to remove the cancer with surgery, the surgeon may try to relieve the symptoms instead of curing the cancer. This surgery can remove blockages of the colon and relieve symptoms, such as bleeding or pain.

Sometimes the cancer has spread only to the liver or lung of someone who is otherwise healthy. Surgery or other treatments may eliminate the cancer. Chemotherapy can be used before or after this type of procedure. This approach provides an opportunity to be free of cancer long-term.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer is large or has spread to the lymph nodes. Chemotherapy can kill cancer cells that may remain after surgery. This helps to reduce the risk of the cancer coming back.

Chemotherapy may also be used before surgery to reduce the size of a large cancer so that it is easier to remove.

Chemotherapy can also be used to relieve the symptoms of colon cancer that cannot be removed with surgery or that has spread to other areas of the body. Sometimes used with radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources.

Radiation therapy can reduce a large cancer before an operation so that it is easier to remove. When surgery is not an option, radiation therapy can be used to relieve the symptoms, such as pain. Some people have radiation therapy and chemotherapy at the same time.

Targeted therapy

Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack certain chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die.

Targeted therapy is usually combined with chemotherapy. Targeted therapy is usually used for people with advanced colon cancer.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment with a medication that helps the body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. The immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in the body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells.

Immunotherapy is generally reserved for advanced colon cancer.

Palliative care

Palliative care is a special type of health care that focuses on the relief of pain and other symptoms of a serious disease. Palliative care is performed by a team of health professionals. The team may include doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Your goal is to improve the quality of life of people with serious illnesses and their families.

Palliative care is an extra layer of support during the treatment of cancer. When palliative care is used with all of the other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

Coping and support

It can be difficult to deal with a cancer diagnosis. At the time, people learn to cope in their own ways. Until you find what works for you, you can try:

Learn enough about your cancer to make treatment decisions. Ask your health care team about the type and stage of your cancer, as well as their treatment options and their side effects. The more you know, the more you will be able to take part in decisions about your care. Ask your health care team to recommend to other sources of information, such as the web sites that you can trust.
Keep friends and family close. Keep the people you care about close to you can help you deal with the cancer. Friends and family can help you take care of things if you're in the hospital. And you may offer support when you feel like you have too much to handle.
Find someone to talk to.Find a good listener who will listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. Speak with a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful. Ask your health care team about support groups in your area or contact with a cancer of the organization, such as the National Cancer Institute or the American Cancer Society.

Find someone to talk to. Find a good listener who will listen to you talk about your hopes and fears. This can be a friend or family member. Speak with a counselor, medical social worker, clergy member or cancer support group may also be useful.

Ask your health care team about support groups in your area or contact with a cancer of the organization, such as the National Cancer Institute or the American Cancer Society.

Preparing for your appointment

If you have cancer of the colon, probably refers to the specialists who treat the disease. You could comply with:

A doctor who treats diseases of the digestive system, called a gastroenterologist.
A doctor who uses medicine to treat cancer, called an oncologist.
A doctor removes the cancer of the colon by surgery, called a surgeon.
A doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Ask a family member or friend to go with you to your appointment with you to help you remember the information they are told.

Make a list of:

Your symptoms and when they began.
Key medical information, including other conditions you have and your medical history in the family.
All medications, vitamins or supplements that you take, including over-dose.
Questions to ask your health care team.

Some basic questions to ask include:

Where in my colon is my cancer?
What is the stage of my cancer of the colon?
Can you explain the lab report from my cancer to me?
I have a copy of my lab report?
Has my colon cancer spread? Where?
More evidence is needed?
What are the treatment options for my colon cancer?
What is the probability that my colon cancer can be cured?
What are the possible side effects of each treatment?
How will each treatment affect my daily life?
How long can I take to decide on treatment?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer some basic questions about your symptoms, such as:

The symptoms been constant or come and go?
How bad are the symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?