Colon Cancer - Treatment & Symptom

Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine or the rectum (end of the colon). It can attack anyone, but the chances of getting the disease increase with age.Colon and rectum cancers, which are sometimes referred to together as "colorectal cancer," arise from the lining of the large intestine. Other types of colon cancer such as lymphoma , carcinoid tumors, melanoma , and sarcomas are rare. It is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon . Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Most colorectal cancers develop first as colorectal polyps, which are growths inside the colon or rectum that may later become cancerous. The large intestine is divided into the long colon and a short rectum, just before the anus. Two thirds of these cancers occur in the colon and one third in the rectum, with very few in the small intestine. Most people have about a 6% chance of developing colon cancer at some point in their lives, usually after age 60.

Colon cancer is preventable and curable. Use of the term "colon cancer" for the rest of this article refers to colon "carcinoma" and not the other, rare types of colon cancer. HNPCC is simply a genetic mutation that increases a person's chances of developing colon cancer, like the BRCA mutations and breast cancer. The colon is part of the intestines. These consist of the small intestine (the section between the stomach and the appendix) and the large intestine (from the appendix to the anus). Cancer is a disorder that affects the genes. When cancer starts in the lining of an organ such as the large intestine, it is called a carcinoma. There is no single cause for colon cancer. However, almost all colon cancers begin as benign polyps which, over a period of many years, develop into cancers. If screening and surveillance programs were practiced universally, there would be a tremendous reduction in the incidence and mortality of colon cancer.

Causes of Colon Cancer

The comman causes and risk factors of Colon Cancer include the following:

• Diet: People who consume a low fibre diet and rich protein diet.
• Patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
• People who are perpetually constipated.
• Genetic.
• People with diabetes have up to a 40 percent increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• A Recent studies show that smokers are 30% to 40% more likely than nonsmokers to die of colorectal cancer.
• Heavy use of alcohol has also been linked to colorectal cancer.
• Patients with a history of breast cancer have a slightly increased risk of developing colon cancer.
• People who leads sedentary life, with not much of physical activity may have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

Some sign and symptoms related to Colon Cancer are as follows:

• Narrow stools.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Change in bowel habits.
• Crampy abdominal pain.
• Weakness, fatigue and anemia.
• Weight loss with no known reason.
• Abdominal discomfort (gas, bloating, cramps).
• Feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
• A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation.
• Unexplained anemia (anemia in any adult who is not a menstruating woman should almost always be evaluated by a colonoscopy).

Treatment of Colon Cancer

Here is list of the methods for treating Colon Cancer:

• Surgery is an operation that involves removing the cancerous section of the colon. This is the primary treatment for colon cancer for most individuals.
• Chemotherapy is used for patients with tumor that has spread to distant organs in order to shrink the tumor, lengthen life, and improve the patient's quality of life.
• Radiation therapy may be used as adjuvant treatment (i.e., in addition to surgery).
• Monoclonal antibody therapy.
• Physicians also use biologic therapy, which uses the body's immune system to combat cancer.