signs of colon cancer in women | Colorectal cancer (colon and rectum)

Colorectal cancer (colon and rectum)



treatments
Protection and prevention
People at risk
Some numbers
Description
In Quebec, colorectal cancer, commonly known as colon cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and the third leading cause of cancer death among women. This cancer is formed in the rectum or colon, called "large intestine". It usually develops on polyps. Polyps are small, wart-like masses of flesh that grow on the inner walls of the large intestine.

Polyps can be mild, without consequences, or they can turn into cancer. The transformation of a polyp into cancer can take several years.

sYMPTOMS
Colorectal cancer usually develops slowly without any apparent symptoms. If they are felt, the symptoms can take the following forms:

A persistent change in intestinal habits:
diarrhea or constipation,
feeling of incomplete evacuation of the stool,
unusual pain during stool evacuation
Abdominal pain or discomfort, such as stomach ache, gas or bloating;
The presence of blood in the stools (black stools or bright red);
Bleeding after stool evacuation
Unexplained weight loss
A feeling of great fatigue.
See a doctor
If you experience any of the previously described symptoms for some time, then you should consult a doctor. However, these symptoms are not necessarily caused by cancer. Other health problems could also be the cause.

treatments
When a person is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, an oncology team establishes a personalized treatment plan with them. This treatment plan can vary according to different elements, such as the type of cancer, its stage and the state of health of the person. The treatment plan also takes into account the wishes and concerns of the person affected and those of his or her family.

When cancer reaches the large intestine, the main treatments offered are surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy may be indicated to treat rectal cancer. The doctor may prescribe one or a combination of these treatments.

Protection and prevention
Healthy lifestyle
The best way to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer is to adopt healthy lifestyle habits:
Avoid smoking;
Practice at least 30 minutes of moderate to high intensity physical activity each day;
Adopt good eating habits:
limit your alcohol consumption,
limit your consumption of red meat and deli meats (bacon, sausage, sausage, etc.),
eat a lot of fruits, vegetables and fiber,
preferably choose whole grain cereals;
Maintain a healthy weight
Screening
Screening for colorectal cancer is designed to detect cancer at an early stage before the signs and symptoms of the disease appear. The chances of successful treatment are then better.

Screening is primarily for people at medium risk. In fact, it is recommended that people aged 50 to 74 at average risk (without symptoms and without any other risk factor) be screened for colorectal cancer every 2 years.

Check with your doctor to find out if you should take the fecal occult blood test (FOBT).

People at risk
Medium risk
Age is the most common risk factor for colorectal cancer. Indeed, the risk of colorectal cancer increases from the age of 50 years. From the age of 50, all people have a certain risk of having colorectal cancer. This risk is called "medium risk".

Higher risk
Whatever their age, some people are more likely than others to have colorectal cancer. This could be the case for people:

who have had colorectal cancer
whose father, mother, brother, sister or child has had colorectal cancer;
who have already had colorectal polyps;
who have certain diseases of the intestines such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease;
who have certain inherited diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis.
People who have a higher risk of colorectal cancer should consult a doctor. The doctor determines the screening method according to the particular situation of each person.

Some numbers
In Canada, approximately 1 in 14 people will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime.
Each year, approximately 6,800 Quebeckers are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among people aged 50 to 74 years.
In Quebec, approximately 2,550 people die each year from colorectal cancer.
Nearly 95% of colorectal cancer cases occur after the age of 50.