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COLORECTAL CANCER

Colorectal Cancer also known as bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon and rectum. According to The American Cancer Society in the United States, one out of 21 men have Colorectal Cancer. Indeed, it is the second and third leading cause of death due to cancer in women and men respectively. But an increase in treatment quality level and advanced screening technique has gradually reduced the per capita death rate.

Causes & Associated Risk Factors

The colorectal cancer may be benign, malignant, or non-cancerous as well. No main cause of Colon Cancer has been found yet. However, doctors say that colon cancer occurs when healthy cells in the colon develop error in their genetic blueprint i.e. DNA.

When DNA is damaged, it becomes cancerous. With the passage of time, the cancer cells grow, invade and destroy normal nearby tissues. There are two inherited gene mutations that increase the risk factor of colon cancer, i.e. HNPCC & FAP. These two and other inherited colon cancer syndromes can be detected through genetic testing.

Symptoms

Some people don’t experience any sign or symptoms in the early stage of colon cancer. However, symptoms depend upon the cancer size and its location in the intestine. Colon cancer has several signs and symptoms that are listed below:

• A Change in your bowel habits
• Rectal Bleeding or blood in your stool
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas, or pain.
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss
• Cramping or abdominal pain

Diagnosis and Treatment

In order to determine colon cancer, doctors may perform several blood tests, and imaging tests. Because imaging test shows pictures of inside parts of the body. In addition to physical examination, some other tests may also be helpful to determine the disease. These tests are Colonoscopy, Biopsy, Molecular testing of the tumor, CT Scan, MRI, Ultrasound, Chest X-Ray, and PET. it is better to find the disease in the early stage to get a better treatment option.

Treatment of colon cancer largely depends on the stage of cancer but some other factors are also important. If cancer hasn’t spread, then surgery is a best treatment. After the surgery, you might also go for chemotherapy.

There are four different treatments for all four stages of Colon Cancer. In stage one, if the polyp removed completely during colonoscopy, then no other treatment may be needed. Similarly, other stages are treated by other methods of treatment.

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