Most colorectal cancer starts in the cells that line the inside of the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum are part of your digestive system, where food is changed into energy and the body rids itself of waste matter. The human colon is a muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long.
Causes
The exact cause of colorectal cancer is unknown, but several factors are thought to play a role. However, about 90 percent of people with the disease are older than 50. Sometimes, cells mutate and begin to grow and divide more quickly than normal cells. Rather than dying, these abnormal cells clump together to form tumors. If these tumors are cancerous, they can invade and kill your body's healthy tissues. From these tumors, cancer cells can metastasize (spread) and form new tumors in other parts of the body.
Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a diet low in fiber and high in fat and calories. More than one in 10 fatal colon cancers may be caused by smoking. Age is the number one risk factor for colon cancer. While wine has shown a protective effect, other alcohol appears to cause colon cancer. Results of one single study suggest working a night shift at least 3 nights a month for at least 15 years may increase the risk of colorectal cancer in women.
Symptoms
The symptoms of bowel cancer are very similar to common complaints such as piles or irritable bowel syndrome. Blood in your stool may be a sign of cancer, but it can also indicate other conditions. Bright red blood you notice on bathroom tissue may come from hemorrhoids or minor tears (fissures) in your anus, for example.
When symptoms are present, some of the most common symptoms are:
* Rectal bleeding
* Changes in bowel habits.
* Stomach cramps or abdominal pain.
* Anemia
* Frequent gas pains
* Blood in the stool.
* Unexplained weight loss.
Treatment
If the diagnosis is cancer, the tumour will then be 'staged'. This process, used with many cancers now, involves assessing how far the tumour has grown and spread. It helps doctors to work out what treatment is most appropriate and can provide an estimate of the chances of it a cure.
In cases of rare, inherited syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis, or inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, you may need removal of your entire colon and rectum as a prophylactic measure.
Radiation therapy in colorectal cancer has been limited to treating cancer of the rectum. There is a decreased local recurrence of rectal cancer in patients receiving radiation either prior to or after surgery.
Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Treatment
Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer. In the United States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men and women. The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Colorectal cancer causes 655,000 deaths worldwide per year. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. Colon cancer often causes no symptoms until it has reached a relatively advanced stage. Cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world.
In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over a period of several years. It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. Colorectal cancer is potentially a very serious condition and can be life-threatening. Symptoms can include blood in the stool, narrower stools, a change in bowel habits and general stomach discomfort. Crohn's disease of the colon, approximately 30% after 25 years if the entire colon is involved. S Crohn's disease of the colon, approximately 30% after 25 years if the entire colon is involved. These polyps may follow a bout of ulcerative colitis. Some inflammatory polyps may become cancerous, so having ulcerative colitis increases your overall risk of colon cancer.
Treatments of colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination. Aspirin should not be taken routinely to prevent colorectal cancer, even in people with a family history of the disease. Chemotherapy can be used to destroy cancer cells after surgery, to control tumor growth or to relieve symptoms of colon cancer. In some cases, chemotherapy is used along with radiation the Some larger polyps may be removed using laparoscopic surgery. Radiation therapy, which also stops tumour cells from dividing and growing, may also be used as this has been shown to be beneficial to some patients.The drugs bevacizumab (Avastin), cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) can be administered along with chemotherapy drugs or alone.
Colorectal Cancer - Prevention and Treatment Tips
1. Surgery (colectomy) is the main treatment for colorectal cancer.
2. Radiotherapy is not used routinely in colon cancer, as it could lead to radiation enteritis.
3. Aspirin should not be taken routinely to prevent colorectal cancer.
4. Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells.
5. Some larger polyps may be removed using laparoscopic surgery.
6. Survival is directly related to detection and the type of cancer involved.
Both Alien & Juliet Cohen are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Alien has sinced written about articles on various topics from Pregnancy Problems, Fitness and Get Rid of Bed Bugs. Alien writes for . He also writes for and y. Alien's top article generates over 673000 views. to your Favourites.
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