Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer General Information

Colorectal Cancer, also called colon cancer, rectal cancer or bowel cancer represents the second form of cancer that leads to the death of the patients and the most common type of cancer all around the world. Every year, more than 600,000 people from every corner of the globe die because of the Colorectal Cancer. Caught on time, in its early stages, it is very often curable. This medical condition involves the colon, rectum and appendix and the cancerous growths that occur here. This form of cancer begins in the colon (a part of the large intestine, in the lower part of the human digestive tract) or/and in the end of the colon, called rectum. The most predisposed to this form of cancer are the people who have over 45 years old, as it is known that the risks increase with age. Also, more prone to developing Colorectal Cancer are those individuals who have a diet that is very rich in fats, Crohn’s disease, growths found in the rectum or colon that present the risk of becoming cancerous (called adenomatous polyps), ulcerative colitis or a family medical history of this disorder. The polyps are mushrooms-like growths considered benign that can transform into cancer with time. There are some other more types of colon cancer, but rarer, for example: carcinoid tumor, lymphoma, sarcoma or melanoma. The diagnosis of this medical condition is done through colonoscopy and the treatment consists, as in the other forms of cancer, in surgery followed by chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of these last two.

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

Colorectal Cancer is usually asymptomatic in the early stages. But, when a patient experiences any signs and symptoms of the disease, they vary depending on the tumor’s size and its location in the large intestine. The main signs and symptoms of this type of cancer can include a change in the bowel function, including diarrhea or constipation or, in some cases, a change in the consistency of the stool which can last for more that two or three weeks, rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, persistent abdominal tenderness, such as cramps, gas or pain, abdominal pain accompanied by a bowel movement sensation, a feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, weakness or fatigue, unexplained weight loss. The blood in the stool is considered the main symptom of the cancer, but there are many other conditions that develop the same symptom, such as Hemorrhoids or minor tears of the anus. But not only other conditions can lead to the appearance of the blood in the stool, there are also some certain foods, which can include beets or red licorice. Every time the patient notices a changing of the stool color, it is recommended to undergo an emergency medical check-up by his or her doctor, so that the condition does not become more serious. There are many simple ways to prevent the appearance of the Colorectal Cancer which can include eating plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, limiting fats, increasing the amount of consumed vitamins, limiting alcohol consumption and maintaining a healthy status of the body.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

In most cases, the type of treatment applied for Colorectal Cancer depends on the severity of the disease or the stage of the cancer. There are three main procedures that are commonly used for this disease and consist in surgery, chemotherapy or radiation. Colectomy is the main treatment for this type of cancer. This operation consists in the removal of the area of the colon which has been affected by the cancer. There are cases in which the surgeon can also remove the surrounding tissue, the healthy one, to prevent the recurring of the cancer. Usually, the lymph nodes are also removed and checked to see if they have been affected too. If they prove to be healthy and have no sign of cancer, the doctor can reconnect them. But, in severe cases of the Colorectal Cancer, the reconnecting is not possible, and the patient will need an operation called colostomy, which can be either permanent or temporary.

The procedure consists in creating a hole in the abdomen from an area of the remaining bowel in order to eliminate waste into special containers. This operation can be temporary, so the rectum can recover from colectomy. In most cases, the surgical option in treating Colorectal Cancer, can lead to the appearance of several side effects which can include short term abdominal pain or tenderness, and temporary constipation or diarrhea. If the patient had a colostomy, he can have an irritation around the hole, called stoma. There are cases in which the patient suffers of some serious syndromes such as the familial adenomatous polyposis, in which the surgeon can remove the entire colon, to prevent the recurrence of the cancer in the future. After this procedure is applied, the doctor will make an ileal pouch-anal anastomosis, which consists in a construction of a pouch from the end of the small intestine directly to the anus.

The second major treatment option for Colorectal Cancer is chemotherapy, which uses medicines that destroy the cancerous cells. This type of treatment can be applied after the surgical approach, to control the tumor and relieve the symptoms caused by the cancer. There are cases in which the chemotherapy option is used when the tumor has spread in the outer layer of the colon. This treatment option can be used in combination with radiation therapy. Like the surgery option, chemotherapy can also lead to the appearance of side effects, which can include nausea and vomiting, mouth sores, fatigue, hair loss and diarrhea. The third major treatment option for Colorectal Cancer is the radiation therapy, which uses X-rays as energy source to kill the cancer cells. This procedure can also be applied after surgery, or to shrink the tumor before surgery, so it can be removed. Radiation therapy can be applied in combination with chemotherapy after the surgical approach. This procedure also leads to the appearance of side effects which can include diarrhea, rectal bleeding, fatigue, loss of appetite and nausea.