Sometimes patients suffering of colorectal cancer complain about being constipated. Constipation can occur due to the tumor which grows inside the colon and blocks partially or totally the flow of solid waste. So, defecating less often as before can be a sign that something is wrong inside the colon.
Sometimes people observe that their stool is much thinner than before. This can also be a sign that inside the colon or rectum is a tumor which began to grow. If the tumor grows it will partially obstruct the way the stool follows and so, the stool will have to remodelate in order to step over the tumor's barrier. Also, abdominal cramping and bloating can occur.
If the tumor bleeds, in the stool will appear red marks, this if the tumor is situated in the rectum.
If the tumor is situated at the end of the colon or in the rectum it might give you the feeling that you still have to go to the bathroom even if you just went. This is due to the fact that the tumor is attached to the ?exit zone? and the body thinks there is some poop left to come out.
Because the tumor blocks the way out and prevents air from elimination, patients can get gassy quite often.
Sometimes colon cancer patients have nausea and even vomit but and this is another condition the tumor gives. Also, tiredness is present no matter how much you get to sleep possible because of anemia (the red blood calls can not carry sufficient oxygen to the body's cells). Anemia can be given by the tumors situated in the right side of the colon because they can bleed for a long period of time without being detected.
In most of the intestinal cancers, loosing weight is present. The loss of weight is made in a short period of time and even though for some people it might be considered a blessing, this is not a good thing, because it means that the tumor blocks the bowel somewhere inside the intestines.
These symptoms can be found in other diseases too but if you see them do contact a doctor for a check up especially if you are over 50 and your family history contains cases of colorectal cancer.
The classification of cancer after AJC/TNM is:
Stage 0: the cancerous tumor affects only the inner layer of the colon or the rectal lining. The indicated treatment is surgery, for removing tumors and polyps. No further treatment is necessary.
Stage I: the tumor has spread deeply in the inner line of the colon or rectum but has not broken through the colon wall yet. The recommended treatment is surgery with no other additional treatment after the surgery.
Stage II: the tumor has broken through the colon wall but has not spread to the lymph nodes yet. Surgery is indicated and chemotherapy or radiotherapy is needed in some cases.
Stage III: the lymph nodes are affected by the tumor. In colon cancer chemotherapy is needed after surgery; in rectum cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy is made before or after the surgery.
Stage IV: the cancer has spread and affected other organs like lungs and liver. In this case chemotherapy and radiotherapy will be applied both in order to stop the rectum from being blocked. Sometimes surgery will be needed in order to remove the tumors from the other affected organs.
Surgery for colon cancer refers to removing the cancerous part of the colon and then reconnecting the two ends of the colon. Also, the nearby lymph nodes and a part of the normal tissue will be removed too. Some of the early stages of colon cancer can be resolved during colonoscopy. The patient will recover after a period of time that varies with age, general health and the cancer's extension.
Surgery for rectal cancer will be made after chemotherapy and radiotherapy if the cancer is in an advanced stage.
If the cancer is caused by polyps they must be removed by a procedure called Polypectomy. A local excision can be made in other cases and will remove superficial cancers from the inner layer of rectum along with some health tissue from nearby. Frequently a low anterior resection can be made in order to treat colorectal cancers but the tumor must not be situated very close to the anal sphincter. Other solutions are the abdominoperineal resection and in the most desperate cases when other organs are involved the pelvic exenteration will be applied.
Going to regularly check-ups and seeing your doctor from the first symptoms of colorectal cancer you can treat cancer from its beginnings, avoid complications during drastic therapy and recover faster from the disease.
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