Khaled Mahmoud

 What Is Colon Cancer? What Is Colon Cancer? Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. It is tumorous growths arising in the large intestine. The large intestine is responsible for drawing out water and salt from the wastes. After that, the wastes become solid and move outside the body through the rectum and anus. After 50, it is recommended to be screened for colon cancer. Colon cancer can also develop along with rectal cancer, commonly known as colorectal cancer. The rectal part arises in the rectum, which is located at the end of the digestive system while the colon arises in the large intestine; it is worse than colon cancer alone. Symptoms of Colon Cancer: Colon cancer does not show any kind of symptoms in its earliest stages. The disease starts showing symptoms after it progresses. The earliest symptoms of colon cancer include diarrhea or constipation, changes in the consistency of stool, and defecating loose, narrow stools. After a while, the patient starts having blood in the stool. At first, the blood may not be visible but after a while, the patient complains about it. Having an urge to defecate with incomplete bowel evacuation is one of the common symptoms too. Abdominal pain, cramps, and gases are common as the disease progresses. The late stages of the disease include general weakness and fatigue. The patient loses weight significantly and the iron profile shows iron deficiency anemia. Since most colon cancers are malignant, they can spread to other areas of the body such as the liver and lungs. If it spreads, it shows other symptoms related to the new area. Causes of Colon Cancer: More research is required to determine the actual causes of colon cancer. There is a long list of risk factors for colon cancer. They participate in the development of colon cancer and put the persona at risk. The most common cause of colon cancer is the development of precancerous growths. They are formed of abnormal cells accumulating in the wall of the colon forming polyps. The polyps are benign and their removal is the optimal solution in order to prevent their development from colon cancer. If the condition is left untreated, it can progress to become malignant. The second most common cause of colon cancer is genetic mutations. Colon cancer can be hereditary and pass through generations. It is a risk factor that increases the chances of developing colon cancer is combined with other risk factors. Colon Cancer and Chronic Diseases: Colon cancer is associated with certain chronic diseases increasing the risk of developing it. The most common chronic disease associated with colon cancer is having a long history of recurrent polyps. Patients who develop precancerous polyps all the time are at a greater risk of developing colon cancer. In addition, inflammatory diseases of the intestine such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease increase the chances of having colon cancer. Some genetic diseases such as Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, known as FAP and Lynch syndrome, known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer or HNPCC are linked to colon cancer. Diabetes, obesity, chronic stress, and alcohol are also associated with the development of colon cancer. Complications of Colon Cancer: Colon cancer is life threating itself. It has some complications that need symptomatic treatment themselves. The most common complication of colon cancer is the blockage of the colon, which leads to bowel obstruction. The patient cannot defecate, which may lead to septicemia, toxemia, and many other complications. The spread of cancer cells to other areas of the body is common and fatal. The blood carries the cancer cells to the lungs, liver, brain, bone, and other organs and tissues causing metastasis. Colon cancer is hard to remove and even after its removal, it can come back due to the incomplete excision of the whole tumor. Disease Process (How It Arises): The risk factors along with the causes can lead to colon cancer. The disease progresses and we can classify it into stages. The first stage or stage 0 is known as carcinoma in situ. The cancer is at its earliest stage and can be treated easily. The second stage or stage 1 indicates that the colon cancer progresses and invaded the next layer of colonic tissue but it did not reach the lymph nodes or any did any metastasis yet. The third stage or stage 2 means that cancer invaded all the layers of the colon but it did not spread outside it. Stage 3 and 4 means that the colon cancer spread to other areas of the body. Can Colon Cancer Benefit from Diet or Lifestyle Changes? Having an early colonoscopy, especially after 50 is essential in order to catch cancer at its earliest stages. If there are any polyps, they should be removed. Diet and lifestyle changes are essential. If you have a high risk of developing colon cancer, it is recommended to include fibers in your diet and decrease the amount of fat in order to decrease the risk of colon cancer. NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and celecoxib can decrease the risk of developing colon cancer but they are not recommended for patients with heart and bleeding problems. Of course, quitting smoking and alcohol is essential. Diagnosis: The early diagnosis is essential for the best chance of treating colon cancer. Blood tests, liver function tests, and renal function tests are essential to exclude other conditions and disorders. They are not specific but needed. Colonoscopy allows the doctor to check the inside of the colon and rectum to see if there are polyps or any unusual thing. The polyps can be removed during the colonoscopy too. An x-ray and CT scan will provide the doctor with an image of the colon too. It is important to determine the extent of colon cancer and whether it has spread to other areas or not. Treatment: The treatment option is determined according to many factors. Surgery is the first treatment option. If the condition did not spread to the walls of the bowels, there is a great chance of the complete cure of cancer. If the spread occurred, the surgery can remove part or the entire colon. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells. It destroys the remaining cancer cells after surgical removal of the colon cancer mass and controls tumor growth. Radiation can be done along with chemotherapy. It is recommended before surgical intervention too. A new medication called regorafenib or Stivarga has been approved by the FDA to treat colon cancers that do not respond to treatments or surgeries. Long Term Outlook: If colon cancer is caught early, it can be treated completely. The patient can live for more than 5 years without any problems. Colon cancer returns in many cases within 5 years. If it does not, the patient can consider himself/herself colon cancer-free. The treatment process depends on many factors, especially at which stage the cancer is discovered. Stage 1, 2, and 3 of colon cancer can be cured completely. Stage 4 is very difficult to treat. However, there are always exceptions.