Know About All The Colon Carcinoma Symptoms

The type of cancer that starts in the large intestine (also called colon) or at the end of colon called rectum is known as colon cancer or colon carcinoma. The colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer if it occurs in the large intestine and rectum area. It is a very dangerous disease that must be checked in time. Although the disease exhibits very few colon carcinoma symptoms, you must be very careful about getting afflicted with it.

The risk of colon cancer increases if you have cancer elsewhere in your body, have colorectal polyps, a family history of colon cancer, crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, or a family history of breast cancer. Some studies also state that colon carcinoma may also be related to what we eat. High fat diet, much red meat and low fiber diet may also enhance the risk of colon cancer.

Usually, colon cancer doesn’t show significant symptoms. But in stage 0 or I you might experience certain symptoms that may indicate towards the presence of cancerous cells in your colon. The symptoms of colon carcinoma may include constipation, diarrhea or other changes in bowel regulation or habits. Some amount of blood in stool and unexplained anemia may also be experienced by the patient.

The other symptoms of colon cancer include abdominal pain and a feeling of tenderness in the lower abdomen, sudden weight loss, vomiting or nausea, large amounts of blood in stool, fatigue and tiredness, stomach cramps, narrow stools and intestinal obstructions. If metastasis has occurred to other parts, you may experience symptoms in that part too. For example, if the lungs are metastasized the patient would have difficulty in breathing.

If you suffer from the above said symptoms the doctors would perform tests to detect whether you are suffering from cancer or not. Tests like Sigmoidoscopy or Colonoscopy may be performed to detect the presence of cancer. There are other tests too but these two are most effective in early detection of the cancer in colon.

It is very essential for people to take care of such symptoms if they have a history of cancer in family or have been afflicted by it in past. A person having history of breast cancer can also develop colon cancer easily. Even if the symptoms may not be those of cancer, precaution is better than medicine.

According to a study carried out by the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancerous deaths in the US. But, an early diagnosis and treatment can completely cure the patient. Therefore you must stay vigilant about the colon carcinoma symptoms and take immediate action.

A Common Man’s Note On Colon Carcinoma

Colon is the large intestine. And Carcinoma is another name for cancer. Therefore, the term Colon Carcinoma can notes to nothing else but the cancer of the large intestine. Colon cancer is also known as bowel cancer or colorectal cancer.

The term colon cancer is used to denote all kinds of cancerous growths not only in the large intestine, but also in the rectum and the appendix. Rectum is the final straightened portion of the large intestine, which terminates in the anus. The human rectum is approximately 12 cm long.

The appendix, in the human body, is a worm-shaped, blind-ended tube like structure, connected at the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine. It can be easily removed as it does not play any role in the human anatomy.

Colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer in the Western world. It is also the second leading cancer-related cause of death in the United States.

So,how does the cancer come about, in the first place?Usually, about 93 percent of the colorectal cancers arise due to adenomatous colon polyps. Adenoma is the scientific name for a collection of growths of a glandular origin. Adenomas can grow from numerous organs in the body,some of them being the colon, pituitary, adrenal and thyroid.

The term polyp means a harmless growth or tumor, which protrudes from the mucous linings of any organ in the body such as the nose, intestine or the bladder,etc.Thereby causing obstructions. Although these growths start out as benign, in due course of time, if untreated, they may develop into malignant ones and form a cancer.

How is it treated?

A localized colon cancer is treated through colonoscopy. Colonoscopy is the examination of the colon up to a depth of 4-5 feet in length through an endoscope. An endoscope is an instrument, which has a CCD camera or a fiber optic camera attached on a flexible tube. This tube is passed through the anus. Virtually the entire colon can be examined in this manner for ulcerations or polyps and the same can be removed.

Therapy of colon carcinoma is usually completed through colon surgery, followed by chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is the process of killing the unwanted and cancerous cells through chemicals.

The symptoms of colon cancer appear only once the cancer reaches its malignant stage. The typical symptoms are rectal bleeding, bloody stools, reduction in diameter of feces, a lingering feeling of incomplete defecation, stools with mucus, change in bowel habits, change in frequency characterized by diarrhea and/or constipation and, in rare cases, bowel obstruction. These symptoms become more prominent depending upon the nearness of the polyp to the anus.

One or the other colon cleanse system such as master cleanse, enema and dual action colon cleanse can be used as precautionary measures to colon carcinoma. It can very effectively save us from the onset of this disease to a great extent.

Life Sans The Carcinoma Of Colon And Rectum

The term colon refers to that portion of the intestine, which begins at the cecum and ends at the rectum. It is more commonly known as the large intestine. Carcinoma of Colon and Rectum is, therefore, a cancer of the large intestine.

The rectum is the last portion of the large intestine, which ends in the anus. The colon cancer and the rectal cancer are together known as colorectal cancer.

In the United States, the colorectal cancer is the fourth largest death-causing disease preceded only by the skin, prostrate and the lung cancer, in men. In women, it is preceded by the skin, lung and the breast cancer.

All cancers begin in the cell. When a cell, instead of dying out, remains as such, and new cells start accumulating in the same region, they form an unwanted lump of flesh called a tumor.

The tumors that are malignant form into the life-threatening, colorectal cancer. The cancer, if not removed completely, grows back. Sometimes, it also spreads to the other parts of the body through the bloodstream.

The colorectal cancer usually spreads to the liver. The new cancer, in such cases, is called a metastatic colorectal cancer, and not liver cancer.

Colorectal cancer is not a contagious disease. Scientists, so far, have been able to shortlist certain personal and genetic factors as the main causes of the disease. More than 90 percent of the people, who get diagnosed of colorectal cancer, are above the age of 50.

Age is the most predominant factor because people, by the time they reach 50, become more prone to developing colorectal polyps. These polyps are either benign or malignant growths in the inner walls of the intestine. Malignant polyps must be removed as soon as possible in order to avoid a cancer risk.

Scientists also believe that a cancer runs in the family. In other words, it is inherited from the parents. If any close relative, such as a brother, sister, father or mother had developed a colorectal cancer, then the chances are, even you will develop one.

Genetic alteration or changes in genes like the HNPCC (Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colon Cancer gene), and the APC is the other cause of this disease. A long and extended case of intestinal inflammation, especially in cases of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, also causes a colorectal cancer.

Scientists are also looking into the habits of the patients. Although not conclusive in facts, they believe, a high-fat content diet lacking in fiber, calcium and folate may increase the risk of this disease. Smoking is another factor, which is under close observation.

Therefore, we can conclude by saying that in order to avoid the Carcinoma of Colon and Rectum we must go for regular medical check-ups after attaining a certain age. Only then we can dream of a life sans the colorectal cancer.