Colorectal
cancer, also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer, is any
cancer that affects the colon and the rectum.
The
American Cancer Society estimate that about 1 in 21 men and 1 in 23 women in the
United States will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime.
It is the second leading cause
of cancer death in women, and the third for men. However, due to advances in
screening techniques and improvements in treatments, the death rate from
colorectal cancer has been falling.
Colorectal cancer may be
benign, or non-cancerous, or malignant. A malignant cancer can spread to other
parts of the body and damage them.
Symptoms
Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
changes
in bowel habits
diarrhea or constipation
a
feeling that the bowel does not empty properly after a bowel movement
blood
in feces that makes stools look black
bright
red blood coming from the rectum
pain
and bloating in the abdomen
a
feeling of fullness in the abdomen, even after not eating for a while.
fatigue or
tiredness
unexplained
weight loss
a
lump in the abdomen or the back passage felt by your doctor
unexplained
iron deficiency in men, or in women after menopause
Most of these symptoms may
also indicate other possible conditions. It is important to see a doctor if
symptoms persist for 4 weeks or more.
Treatment
Treatment will depend on
several factors, including the size, location, and stage of the cancer, whether
or not it is recurrent, and the current overall state of health of the patient.
Treatment options include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and
surgery.
Surgery
for colorectal cancer
This is the most common
treatment. The affected malignant tumors and any nearby lymph nodes will be
removed, to reduce the risk of the cancer spreading.
The bowel is usually sewn
back together, but sometimes the rectum is removed completely and a colostomy
bag is attached for drainage. The colostomy bag collects stools. This is
usually a temporary measure, but it may be permanent if it is not possible to join
up the ends of the bowel.
If the cancer is diagnosed
early enough, surgery may successfully remove it. If surgery does not stop the
cancer, it will ease the symptoms.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves using
a medicine or chemical to destroy the cancerous cells. It is commonly used for colon cancer treatment.
Before surgery, it may help shrink the tumor.
Targeted therapy is a kind
of chemotherapy that specifically targets the proteins that encourage the
development of some cancers. They may have fewer side effects than other types
of chemotherapy. Drugs that may be used for colorectal cancer
include bevacizumab (Avastin) and ramucirumab (Cyramza).
A study has found that
patients with advanced colon cancer who receive chemotherapy and who have a
family history of colorectal cancer have a significantly lower
likelihood of cancer recurrence and death.
Radiation
therapy
Radiation therapy uses high
energy radiation beams to destroy the cancer cells and to prevent them from
multiplying. This is more commonly used for rectal cancer treatment. It may be
used before surgery in an attempt to shrink the tumor.
Both radiation therapy and
chemotherapy may be given after surgery to help lower the chances of
recurrence.
Ablation
Ablation can destroy a tumor
without removing it. It can be carried out using
radiofrequency, ethanol, or cryosurgery. These are delivered using a probe or
needle that is guided by ultrasoundor CT scanning technology.
Recovery
Malignant tumors can spread
to other parts of the body if left untreated. The chances of a complete cure
depend enormously on how early the cancer is diagnosed and treated.
A patient's recovery depends
on the following factors:
the
stage when diagnosis was made
whether
the cancer created a hole or blockage in the colon
the
patient's general state of health
In some cases, the cancer
may return.
Risk factors
Possible risk factors include:
older
age
a
diet that is high in animal protein, saturated fats, and calories
a
diet that is low in fiber
high
alcohol consumption
having
had breast, ovary, or uterine cancer
a
family history of colorectal cancer
having
ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, or irritable bowel disease
(IBD)
overweight
and obesity
smoking
a
lack of physical activity
the
presence of polyps in the colon or rectum, as these may eventually become
cancerous.
Most colon cancers develop
within polyps (adenoma). These are often found inside the bowel wall.
Eating red or processed
meats may
increase the risk
People who have a tumor
suppressor gene known as Sprouty2 may have a higher risk of
some colorectal cancers.
According to WHO (World
Health Organization) colorectal cancer is the second most common tumor among
both men and women, after lung tumors.
Around 2 percent of people
aged over 50 years will eventually develop colorectal cancer in Western Europe.
Colorectal cancer tends to
affect men and women equally. However, men tend to develop it at a younger age.
No comments:
Post a Comment