What We Should Know About Colon Cancer

What We Should Know About Colon Cancer




In people over the age of 50, it is recommended to have an annual review to be able to detect the possible signs of colon cancer in time. A healthy lifestyle is key to prevent it.




Colon cancer is an increasingly frequent condition, so it's worth knowing some of its features to avoid it or treat it in time. This is the most serious disease that can affect this organ ... That is why in this article we will help you to know everything about this type of cancer. Check out!

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death in adults in countries such as the United States. Early diagnosis may be decisive for definitive cure. Colon cancer begins in the lining of this same organ and rectum.

What are the causes of colon cancer?
There is no single cause for the development of the disease. In most patients the first sign to manifest are benign polyps that can grow or progress to cancer if left untreated. The people most at risk for developing this type of cancer are:

Over 60 years old;
Of African American or Eastern European origin;
They consume a lot of red or processed meat;
Who has colorectal polyps;
Those suffering from inflammatory bowel disorders such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease;
Patients with family history (mainly cases of adenomatous polyposis in the family);
That maintains a diet rich in fats and poor in fiber;
Those who smoke or consume too much alcohol;
Obese or very overweight.
Cancer of the large intestine or colon is the second most common in Spain and is more common in men than in women. Only 10% of the polyps in the colon turn into cancer, but you should not wait too long to start treatment.

Processed_colon

What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
They may vary depending on the location of the tumor in the gut:
If it is located in the left colon the symptoms are: bloody stools, diarrhea and constipation, feeling of incomplete evacuation;
If it is located in the transverse colon: pain, obstruction, colic type pain, vomiting and abdominal distension;
If it is located in the right colon: internal or hidden hemorrhage, chronic anemia, tiredness, pallor and weakness.
In all cases, colon cancer can cause lack of appetite, drastic weight reduction, fever, chronic fatigue, tenderness and pain in the lower abdomen, and thinning of the stool.

How to detect colon cancer?
Medical examinations are the ones that determine whether or not a person has colon cancer (or their predecessors, polyps). The doctor puts pressure on the abdominal area, as well as a rectal examination to detect lumps in the area.


In turn, a stool test can detect the presence of blood, which could indicate colon cancer (although it may also indicate other diseases). Other tests include complete blood counts to detect anemia, as well as liver function tests.

The examination that allows you to see the entire intestine and to determine with certainty the presence of cancer or polyps is the colonoscopy. With this test it is possible to observe the intestinal tube in its entirety and extract suspicious samples for further analysis. If the lesions do not allow the passage of this element, the procedure will be the opaque enema, in order to observe the silhouette of the colon on the radiographs.

Colonoscopy1-500x325

If colon cancer is diagnosed, other tests should be done to check if the tumor has spread and to determine the extent of the disease by means of CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging in the abdomen and lower belly. There are five stages of colon cancer:

0: incipient, in the outer layer of the intestine;
I: in the inner layers of the colon;
II: disseminated through the walls of the colon;
III: in the lymph nodes;
IV: disseminated in other organs (metastasis).
Treatment will depend on several factors, such as the stage of the disease. From minor to greater complexity is the surgery (colectomy) to extract the cancerous cells; chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells and radiation to destroy cancerous tissue.

Colon cancer is curable if detected and treated in the early stages. In addition, the prognosis will depend on the age of the patient, the immune system and when the treatment was started, among other factors. If the disease does not recur five years after treatment it would indicate that the patient is cured.

Early diagnosis and prevention of colon cancer
There are different programs to detect it in time, since in the beginning the symptoms can be confused with other pathologies. It is recommended that people over 50 perform a fecal occult blood test once a year.

Other measures should be taken if there is a family history and preventive endoscopy after the age of 40. If the results are negative the examination will need to be repeated only after two years, but if they are positive a colonoscopy will be indicated, as indicated before.

As for prevention, studies indicate that changing food and maintaining a healthier lifestyle can greatly reduce the likelihood of developing colon cancer. A diet low in fats and red meats and rich in fiber reduces the risks. On the other hand it is necessary to consult a doctor when the symptoms related to the evacuation of the feces begin to appear.