Cancer of the colon and rectum

The diagnosis of cancer of the colon or rectum is also called colorectal cancer. This cancer causes a lot of questions. The article describes colorectal cancer, lists its stages and methods of treatment.

Cancer of the colon and rectum

The body consists of many types of cells. Usually, cells grow, divide and produce new cells, because they are necessary to keep the body healthy and functioning properly. Sometimes the process is broken - the cells continue to divide when new cells are not needed. These unnecessary new cells are called tumors or tumors. Tumors can be benign and malignant. Benign tumors are not cancer. They are deleted and, in most cases, not returned. Cells of benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Most importantly, benign tumors rarely pose a threat to life.

Malignant tumors are cancer. Cells of malignant tumors are abnormal and divide without control and order. These cancer cells penetrate and destroy the tissues around them. Cancer cells can detach from a malignant tumor. They enter the blood or lymphatic system( tissues and organs that produce and store cells, they fight infection and disease).This process is called metastasis - the cancer spreads from the initial( primary) tumor and begins to form new( secondary) tumors on other parts of the body.

Colorectal cancer: Who is at risk?

The exact causes of colorectal cancer are unknown. The following risk factors increase the chances of a person developing colorectal cancer:

• Age. Cancer of the colon is more likely to develop in people when they grow older. This disease is more common in patients older than 45 years. However, colorectal cancer can occur at a young age, even, in rare cases, in adolescence.
• Diets. Colorectal cancer is associated with human nutrition, which contains a high content of fat and calories and low fiber content.
• Polyps. Polyps are benign formations on the inner wall of the colon and rectum. They are quite common in people older than 45 years. Some types of polyps increase the risk of developing a colorectal cancer in a person.
• A rare hereditary disease called a family polyposis. This disease causes hundreds of polyps that form in the thick and rectum.
• Women with ovarian, uterine, breast cancer have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. In addition, a person who has already had colorectal cancer, can develop this disease a second time.
• Relatives of the first degree of kinship( parents, brothers, sisters, children) are prone to developing this type of cancer, especially if the relative was ill with cancer at a young age. If several family members had colorectal cancer, the chances increase several times.
• Ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which the integument of the colon is inflamed. The presence of this condition increases the chances of a person developing colorectal cancer.

The presence of one or more of these risk factors does not guarantee that a person will develop colon cancer. This only increases the chances.

Symptoms of cancer

• Common signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:
• Change in bowel functions
• Diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the intestine does not empty completely
• Blood( bright red or very dark) in the stool
• Discomfort in the abdomen( frequentPain, gas, bloating, seizures)
• Weight loss for no apparent reason
• Permanent fatigue
• Vomiting

These symptoms may be caused by colorectal cancer or other conditions. It is very important to consult a doctor.

Diagnosis of bowel cancer

To help find the cause of the symptoms, the doctor evaluates a person's medical history, and also conducts a series of tests, some of them:

• X-ray of the large intestine will help identify polyps or other changes.
• Recto-manoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the rectum and lower part of the large intestine.
• Biopsy is the removal of a tissue sample for examination under a microscope, allowing you to make an accurate diagnosis.

Stages of colon cancer

It is very important to know at what stage is colorectal cancer. This makes it clear whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body and what constitutes a threat to human life. Knowing the stage of the disease, the doctor plans treatment. Below are descriptions of the various stages of colorectal cancer.

• Early stage. This stage occurs only in the inner lining of the colon or rectum.
• The first stage. Cancer begins to spread on the inner wall of the rectum or large intestine.
• The second stage. Cancer spreads outside the colon or rectum to nearby tissues, but not in the lymph nodes.
• Third stage. The cancer gets to the nearby lymph nodes.
• Fourth stage. Cancer spreads to other parts of the body. Colorectal cancer can affect the liver or lungs.
• Periodic stage. Periodic stage of cancer means that the cancer returned after treatment. The disease may recur in the rectum or large intestine or in another part of the body.

Treatment of colorectal cancer

Treatment mainly depends on the size, location and prevalence of the tumor. Several different types of procedures are used to treat colorectal cancer.

• Surgical removal of the tumor is the most common method of treating colorectal cancer. Typically, the surgeon removes the tumor together with part of a healthy thick( or straight) intestine and nearby lymph nodes. The doctor can restore the integrity of the colon or rectum. When a surgeon can not restore healthy parts, he uses a temporary or permanent colostomy. This provides a new way for waste.
• Chemotherapy is the use of antitumor drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is used to destroy all cancer cells that can remain in the body after surgery.
• Radiation therapy involves the use of X-rays to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy is a local therapy, it affects cancer cells only in the treated area.
• Biological therapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. The immune system finds cancer cells in the body and destroys them. Biological therapy is used after the operation, or together with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.