With the passing of a great Filipino figure Corazon Aquino, whose death was caused by a disease considered as one of the top three causes of death in the Philippines - Colon Cancer - One is left to only ponder as to what could have caused such a thing and more importantly how to avoid it and treat it. As always I did my research and I was able to compile a somewhat easy to understand article for you to read. However, as always when it comes to all types of symptoms and diseases it is always best to consult your personal doctor if you suspect anything wrong with your health.
Here is what I have discovered about Colon Cancer:
Alternative Names
Colorectal cancer; Cancer - colon
Defined
Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). Such cancer is sometimes referred to as "colorectal cancer."
Other types of colon cancer such as lymphoma, carcinoid tumors, melanoma, and sarcomas are rare. In this article, use of the term "colon cancer" refers to colon carcinoma and not these rare types of colon cancer.
Causes
According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. (However, early diagnosis often leads to a complete cure.)
There is no single cause for colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as non-cancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.
You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you have:
* Cancer elsewhere in the body
* Colorectal polyps
* Crohn's disease
* Family history of colon cancer
* Personal history of breast cancer
* Ulcerative colitis
Certain genetic syndromes also increase the risk of developing colon cancer.
What you eat may play a role in your risk of colon cancer. Colon cancer may be associated with a high-fat, low-fiber diet and red meat. However, some studies found that the risk does not drop if you switch to a high-fiber diet, so the cause of the link is not yet clear.
Smoking cigarettes is another risk factor for colorectal cancer.
Symptoms
Many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. The following symptoms, however, may indicate colon cancer:
* Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
* Blood in the stool
* Diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits
* Intestinal obstruction
* Narrow stools
* Unexplained anemia
* Weight loss with no known reason
Exams and Tests
With proper screening, colon cancer can be detected BEFORE symptoms develop, when it is most curable.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam and press on your belly area. The physical exam rarely shows any problems, although the doctor may feel a mass in the abdomen. A rectal exam may reveal a mass in patients with rectal cancer, but not colon cancer.
Imaging tests to diagnose colorectal cancer include:
* Colonoscopy
* Sigmoidoscopy
Note: Only colonoscopy can see the entire colon.
A fecal occult blood test (FOBT) may detect small amounts of blood in the stool, which could suggest colon cancer. However, this test is often negative in patients with colon cancer. For this reason, a FOBT must be done along with colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. It is also important to note that a positive FOBT doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer.
A complete blood count may show signs of anemia with low iron levels.
If your doctor learns that you do have colorectal cancer, more tests will be done to see if the cancer has spread. This is called staging.
* Stage 0: Very early cancer on the innermost layer of the intestine* Stage I: Cancer is in the inner layers of the colon
* Stage II: Cancer has spread through the muscle wall of the colon
* Stage III: Cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
* Stage IV: Cancer that has spread to other organs
Treatment
Treatment depends partly on the stage of the cancer. In general, treatments may include:
* Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells
* Surgery to remove cancer cells
* Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue
Stage 0 colon cancer may be treated by removing the cancer cells, often during a colonoscopy. For stages I, II, and III cancer, more extensive surgery is needed to remove the part of the colon that is cancerous.There is some debate as to whether patients with stage II colon cancer should receive chemotherapy after surgery. You should discuss this with your oncologist.
Almost all patients with stage III colon cancer should receive chemotherapy after surgery for approximately 6 - 8 months. The chemotherapy drug 5-fluorouracil has been shown to increase the chance of a cure in certain patients.
Chemotherapy is also used to treat patients with stage IV colon cancer. Irinotecan, oxaliplatin, and 5-fluorouracil are the three most commonly used drugs. In addition, monoclonal antibodies, including cetuximab (Erbitux), panitumumab (Vectibix), and bevacizumab (Avastin) have been used alone or in combination with chemotherapy.
You may receive just one type, or a combination of the drugs. Capecitabine is a chemotherapy drug taken by mouth, and is similar to 5-fluorouracil.
For patients with stage IV disease that has spread to the liver, various treatments directed specifically at the liver can be used. This may include:
* Burning the cancer (ablation)
* Cutting out the cancer
* Delivering chemotherapy or radiation directly into the liver
* Freezing the cancer (cryotherapy)
Although radiation therapy is occasionally used in patients with colon cancer, it is usually used in combination with chemotherapy for patients with stage III rectal cancer.
If you want to know more here is a video that talks more about Colon Cancer in an in depth way:
I do hope that this helps shed some light for those that are seeking this type of information however as always I pray that no one should be affected by this disease. It is also advisable that if you do have this affliction to try and find support groups within your area to help both you and your family get through this. In the end it is a battle of both the body and mind. Your local hospital should have information about these types of groups.
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