Colon cancer: first symptoms, methods of diagnosis

One of the most common oncological diseases in Russia is colon cancer. However, the patient does not start experiencing the first symptoms immediately.

Approximately every eighth case of oncology concerns this area. Mostly elderly people suffer - up to 55 years of age, colon cancer occurs quite rarely. Such a disease, which arose before the age of 45, can only be hereditary.

Such a disease does not affect all parts of the intestine in the same way: most often the tumor occurs 30-40 centimeters from the anus, in the colon or rectum. Otherwise, doctors call malignant neoplasms in this area colorectal cancer.

There are special cases of this disease: cancer of the anal canal and cancer of the small intestine, but they are rare.

What is cancer?

Cancer is a general term for all malignant neoplasms. Doctors call them tumors. But not every tumor in the intestine is cancerous and therefore colon cancer. There are many benign growths, such as polyps in the intestines. However, if untreated, they can develop into cancerous tumors, so they are considered precursors of colon cancer.

Cancer cells are so changed that they divide very quickly. This allows them to grow outside the tumor - to neighboring tissues and organs. In addition, cancer cells can spread through the blood or lymph to other parts of the body, where they form secondary tumors (metastases).

How does colon cancer develop?

Cancer cells are cells in the body that divide and grow uncontrollably. Usually, the body strictly regulates their growth, but cancer cells avoid this "test". They grow in tissues and gradually destroy them.

When cells divide, DNA (genes) are copied from another cell. The older the person, the higher the risk that the genes of a new cell will mutate and become cancerous if the body fails to render it harmless. If a cell of the intestine is exposed to this, then colorectal cancer occurs.

Colorectal cancer causes and risk factors

It is very difficult to name the exact causes of this disease. Most often they lie in a person's lifestyle: his eating habits and physical activity. The two most important influencing factors are tobacco consumption and excess weight.

Other risk factors:

• hypodynamia;
• chronic inflammatory bowel disease: ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease;
• a diet low in fiber;
• alcohol abuse;
• regular consumption of red meat or sausages made from it.

People with close family members who have or have suffered from colorectal cancer also have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer.

The tumor in most cases develops slowly from benign precursors such as polyps in the intestine. Their cells can mutate and a malignant neoplasm will begin to develop. Therefore, it is important to remove polyps immediately after detection.

Important! It is recommended to undergo a complete examination of the whole body every year so that diseases can be detected at an early stage: this way it will be much easier to get rid of them.

People with type 2 diabetes have a higher risk of developing colon cancer. Experts see the reasons for this in the typical changes in hormone levels that occur at the beginning of the development of the disease. The cells of the body stop responding normally to insulin - because of this, the pancreas produces large quantities of it. An excess of this hormone can lead to bowel cancer.

For people at risk, it is important to be monitored regularly. Cancer screening, or early diagnosis of tumors, would be a good method. Thus, the entire body is checked for the presence of various tumors and metastases.

Oncologists say the incidence of colorectal cancer could be significantly reduced if more people choose healthier lifestyles. This, unfortunately, will not guarantee that the disease will not occur at all, but will reduce the risks of its occurrence.

Colon cancer symptoms

Colon cancer often causes no symptoms for a long time. At the beginning, the signs are very atypical - they can indicate various diseases and problems with the intestines. There are no definite symptoms that clearly indicate cancer.

Possible colon cancer symptoms that should be considered as the first warning signs:

• pain and cramps in the abdomen;
• strong false urge to defecate;
• constipation, diarrhea, or alternation;
• pain during bowel movements;
• an altered appearance of stool - for example, the appearance of blood, mucus, thin feces in it (occurs when the intestine is narrowed by a tumor);
• indigestion accompanying the above signs: flatulence, bloating, rumbling, heartburn, nausea, heaviness in the stomach;
• enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen.

These early symptoms of colon cancer are very nonspecific. They can also occur with irritable bowel syndrome, which is much more common.

Other symptoms that can occur with both colon cancer and other diseases are:

• decreased performance;
• increased night sweats;
• fever.

Symptoms that may indicate an active development of the disease:

• anemia if the intestinal tumor bleeds regularly;
• pallor;
• fatigue;
• unintentional quick weight loss;
• compaction in the stomach with a large tumor;
• intestinal obstruction.

If secondary tumors have formed (cancer has "spread" metastases) in other organs, then other symptoms may develop, which depend on the localization of the secondary neoplasm.

Table 1. Colon cancer symptoms with metastases

Localization of metastases	Symptoms
Liver	loss of appetite; pain in the right hypochondrium; nausea and vomiting; swelling; ascites - the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity; yellowing of the skin and eyes; violation of blood clotting; brown urine; lack of vitamins and minerals; disturbances of consciousness up to coma (hepatic coma).
Lungs	cough, sometimes with bloody sputum; bronchitis; chest pain; difficulty breathing.

Colon cancer diagnostics

If there is a suspicion of a tumor in the intestine, diagnostics reveal:

• its exact localization;
• it is benign or malignant;
• how much the disease has progressed and whether there are metastases in other organs.

For an accurate diagnosis, several examinations will be required.

Initial examination

For complaints of prolonged digestive problems, a person must first contact a local therapist. With prolonged discomfort in the lower abdomen, women are better off going to a gynecologist. To compile anamnesis, the doctor asks several questions.

1. What are the complaints: for example, changes in stool, abdominal cramps, nausea?
2. How long do symptoms last?
3. What does your diet consist of? Is meat included?
4. Do you suffer from any chronic inflammatory bowel disease?
5. Have you previously had polyps in your intestines?
6. Do you have any family members who have colon cancer now or in the past?

The answers to these questions can help the doctor build a primary clinical picture. Then the specialist examines the patient, probes the abdomen. If rectal cancer or anal cancer is suspected, a specialist performs a digital rectal examination. Thanks to this, you can feel the tumor itself if it is close to the anus. This type of examination is effective, but with this method it is impossible to determine the nature of the tumor, therefore, additional diagnostics will be required.

Examination by a gastroenterologist

The patient needs to be examined by a gastroenterologist who will check the condition and function of the gastrointestinal tract. A fecal occult blood test will be scheduled. True, it does not always give a true result: if a person often eats meat products, blood can be found in his stool even in the absence of cancer. In addition, it is possible that the blood appeared from intestinal polyps, enlarged hemorrhoids, or harmless mucosal injuries in the anal area. Therefore, in this case, it is impossible to make an accurate diagnosis without another type of diagnosis.

Colonoscopy

reference. Colonoscopy is a method of examining the large intestine that uses an endoscope - an optical device that looks like a flexible hose with a mini-camera at the end. Diagnostics is carried out under visual control: the image is displayed on the screen. This method is absolutely safe, since the shooting uses the so-called "cold" light, which excludes burns of the mucous membrane.

To obtain reliable results, preparation is needed: in a day, the intestines are cleansed with the help of laxatives or an enema, the patient follows a diet. During the procedure, the doctor inserts the endoscope into the patient's rectum and "pushes" it up to the large intestine. Thus, he can examine the condition of this area, and if suspicious places are found with the endoscope, tissue samples can be taken (biopsy). If colon polyps were found during the examination, they are removed directly during the colonoscopy. Thanks to this diagnostic method, an accurate diagnosis will be made and the treatment of the disease will begin. However, it is important to know about complications, for example, bleeding during the procedure: they can occur when removing polyps. They rarely occur, however, for people with blood diseases, this method may be contraindicated.

Other diagnostic methods

With the help of a blood test, the level of tumor markers is checked. If it is elevated, then this may indicate the development of colon cancer, however, their presence can be detected in a healthy person, therefore, this type of diagnosis is not completely reliable. However, a blood test is essential to keep abreast of your overall health.

Imaging research methods will also help to draw up a general clinical picture and outline a treatment path:

• ultrasound examination (ultrasound);
• computed tomography (CT)
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• positron emission tomography (PET).

Video - Colon cancer: prevention and diagnosis

Preventive examinations

Experts recommend that people aged 50 and older regularly undergo cancer screening and digital rectal examination. This will help detect the tumor at an early stage.

For people who do not belong to any risk group, who have no complaints and specific suspicions of cancer, compulsory medical examination includes the following diagnostic methods to exclude colorectal cancer intestines:

• from the age of five: once a year, a fecal occult blood test (rapid test for colorectal cancer);
• from the age of eighteen: every two years, either a colonoscopy or a fecal occult blood test.

There are several types of stool tests. In a rapid test, stool samples from different days are collected in small containers, and then examined in the laboratory by adding a special solution to them. The appearance of a blue color indicates the presence of blood in the stool. Despite the fact that such an analysis is not completely reliable and it is impossible to accurately determine the presence of tumor, he can make it clear to the patient that normal processes are disrupted in his body and should contact to the doctor.

Other methods of preventive examination include:

• capsule endoscopy. A person swallows a special capsule equipped with a small camera that transmits a video signal. So you can find out about the state of the gastrointestinal tract;
• virtual colonoscopy. This is an examination of the colon without the introduction of an endoscope using MRI or CT;
• sigmoidoscopy. This is a visual examination of the mucous membrane of the anal canal, rectum and part of the sigmoid colon. It is carried out using a sigmoidoscope.

Colon cancer treatment

In the case of colon cancer, the chances of recovery largely depend on how early the tumor is detected. If it has grown only superficially on the mucous membrane, then it is easy to remove it with a colonoscopy. In the future, it will be necessary to be examined only once every six months in order to check whether the neoplasm will appear again.

If colonoscopy cannot completely remove the tumor, further steps are necessary. Depending on how far the tumor has spread, different therapies can be applied. Typically used:

• operation;
• chemotherapy;
• radiation therapy;
• combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy (radiochemotherapy);
• immunotherapy.

If the patient has the last - terminal - stage of cancer, it is unlikely to get rid of it completely. Doctors can only prolong a patient's life through intensive care. 30% of patients with the fourth stage of cancer live up to 5 years.

Some colon cancer patients have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials in which new drugs are tested. For people with advanced metastatic colorectal cancer with little chance of recovery, new drug developments may be an excellent option for returning to a fulfilling life.

Psychological assistance is also important. For many patients, such a dire diagnosis causes shock and depression, even when the chances of recovery are very high. This condition can accelerate the progression of the disease and worsen the physical condition of a person.

Life after illness

Even after getting rid of colon cancer, you need to get regular check-ups to monitor your body condition and avoid relapse.

Patients are advised to:

• undergo a colonoscopy six months after the removal of the tumor, and then - with an interval of two years;
• conduct a complete examination of the body annually;
• once every six months, take a general analysis of blood, urine and feces;
• follow a diet.

Diet

Diet plays an important role in colon cancer and after getting rid of it. Cancer and its treatment is a big burden on the body. Therefore, it is important to provide it with the necessary energy.

Many people with colorectal cancer have difficulty keeping their weight. With such a disease, it is important to control it: it cannot be too low. Patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy are particularly likely to struggle with side effects such as loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting. In addition, there may be a disturbance in taste or smell. In this case, it is important to listen to the body and eat what you want.

The doctor will prescribe the patient an individual nutritional plan that will help saturate the body with essential vitamins and maintain good physical condition. For those who are unable to eat in the usual way due to rejection or other complications, artificial feeding with a gastric tube may be the way out.

Special diets for cancer are gaining popularity. Patients often ask the question: will they help improve the condition of the body and stop the development of the disease?

Most often they talk about the so-called ketogenic diet, in which carbohydrates are almost completely excluded. Unfortunately, doctors have not been proven that it helps to get rid of such a disease: perhaps this happened only in special cases. In addition, if it is observed, a person will most likely not remain full, which will negatively affect his condition. It is important to remember that each organism is different, and what can help one person can harm another. Therefore, it is worth discussing your diet with a doctor - he will tell you exactly what is suitable for this or that patient.

General Tips

1. Distribute food throughout the day - many small portions (5-6 per day) are easier to digest than several large ones.
2. Drinking plenty of water is important to ensure good digestion. With diarrhea and vomiting, you can also compensate for the loss of minerals with good mineral water.
3. In case of loss of appetite, it is not recommended to drink water with meals, so as not to fill the stomach.
4. You need to chew food thoroughly. This will make it easier for your bowels.
5. Keep a food diary to monitor your body's reactions and condition after a particular food.
6. In case of constipation, it is best to take only natural laxatives.
7. Food and drinks should not be too hot or too cold.
8. Dry foods like crackers or crispbreads can help relieve nausea.

Conclusion

Colon cancer is a dangerous disease, but it is not a death sentence. It is quite possible to get rid of it if treatment is started on time. To avoid such a disease altogether, it is recommended to undergo a full examination of the body at least once a year - this will help to detect possible diseases at an early stage.

Even if a diagnosis such as colorectal cancer has been made, do not despair. It is important to follow the doctor's instructions and seek psychological help. Cancer can be defeated, the main thing is to make efforts.