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Colon cancer is a cancer of large intestine (colon) or rectum (end of colon). What are the symptoms of colon cancer? Read on to get the information about colon cancer.

Colon is the last part of the digestive system. It is a tubular, muscular organ that measures about 4 feet in length. Its main function is to extract salt and water from the solid wastes, before being eliminated from the body and to store and control an elimination of fecal matter. Colon cancer begins in the large intestine (colon) or it starts at the end of the colon, rectum. It is also known as colorectal cancer. Some other rare types of colon cancer are carcinoid tumors, lymphoma, sarcomas and lymphoma. Cancer of colon and rectum is the forth-leading cause of death by cancer in females and the third-leading cause in males. According to the American Cancer Society, every year approximately 1,12,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer and about 41,000 people are diagnosed with rectal cancer. Well, what are the causes of colon cancer?

Causes of Colon Cancer

In most cases, colon cancer starts as small, benign clumps of cells, known as adenomatous polyps. Over time, these polyps enlarge and degenerate to develop adenocarcinomas, a type of colon cancer. People with adenomatous polyposis syndrome are at the greater risk of colon cancer. This type of colon cancer is more common in the people below the age of 40 years. In case of hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer syndrome, colon cancer may develop without the precursor polyps. It is generally related to genetic abnormality.

People with ulcerative colitis or Crohn colitis, uterine or ovarian cancer or breast cancer, present or in the past, and people with family history of colon cancer are also more vulnerable to colon cancer. Some other risk factors are obesity, cigarette smoking and diet (not having high-fiber diet). Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen are the early symptoms of colon cancer. What are other signs and symptoms of colon cancer?

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

In most types of cancer, no symptoms are noticed in the early stage. That’s why the cancer remains undetected until it reaches the advanced stage. The same happens in case of colon cancer. Many people don’t experience noticeable symptoms during the early stage of the disease. When the symptoms appear, they may vary in severity, depending upon size and location of the cancer. There are significant changes in the bowel habits such as constipation or diarrhea. There are certain changes in the consistency of stool for longer than two weeks. You may experience abdominal pain with a bowel movement, persistent abdominal discomfort such as pain, gas or cramps.

There is chronic rectal bleeding, which is associated with iron deficiency anemia, fatigue and weakness. Sometimes, rectal bleeding can be detected through a fecal occult blood test. When the tumor enlarges, there may be a partial or complete blockage of colon. In such condition, there are certain symptoms of bowel obstruction such as abdominal pain, abdominal distension, rectal pain, vomiting, nausea and unexplained weight loss. There may be a sensation of incomplete evacuation even after the bowel movement. Whenever you notice the changes in the consistency of stool or presence of blood in stool, you should immediately consult the doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Colon Cancer

Most colon cancers are caused by adenomatous polyps. Screening can be done to detect polyps before they grow to develop cancer. If colon cancer is detected in the early stage, there are more chances to cure it. Some of the common screening and diagnostic procedures for colon cancer are stool blood test, stool DNA test, flexible sigmoidoscopy, barium enema, colonoscopy and virtual colonoscopy. Once a person is diagnosed with colon cancer, certain tests including chest X-ray, abdominal CT scan and MRI scan are performed to determine the stage of the cancer and to detect whether colon cancer is spread to liver or lungs.

The treatment option for colon cancer is decided depending upon the stage of cancer. There are three major treatment options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. In surgical procedures, the cancerous part of colon is removed, known as colostomy. In case of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or familial adenomatous polyposis, entire colon and rectum is removed. If the cancer is in the early stage and localized in a polyp, then it can be removed completely during colonoscopy.

Colon cancer is, no doubt, a life-threatening disease. Since the symptoms of colon cancer appear mostly in the last stage, it is better to avoid them by regular screening and following a healthy lifestyle. There are a number of options for colon cancer screening such as annual fecal occult blood testing, colonoscopy every 10 years, flexible sigmoidoscopy and barium enema every five years. In addition, it is very important to maintain the healthy habits such as having high-fiber and low-fat diet, quit smoking and alcoholism and maintaining a healthy body weight. Your diet should be rich in vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Whole grains consist of fibers, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which may play a significant role in the prevention of colon cancer. So, be healthy and enjoy life!

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By Reshma Jirage

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