Colon Rectal Cancer

Learn More About Colon Cancer

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Anatomically speaking, the colon is the longest part of the large intestine and the lowest part of the digestive system. Within the colon, water and salt are extracted from solid wastes before the wastes moves through the rectum to be excreted through the anus.

In general, cancer is a disease wherein the cells are growing at an uncontrollable rate forming malignant tumors. ?Colon cancer happens when the cells in the large intestines grow at an uncontrollable rate. Typically, most cancerous cells originate from benign or non malignant tumors called adenomatous polyps which form on the inner walls of the large intestines.

If these polyps will not be removed over time through colonoscopy, some of these polyps become malignant which causes cancer of the colon. Cancerous growths may also damage nearby healthy tissues which causes more severe complications.

Once these malignant tumors grow the cancerous cells may travel through the bloodstream and lymph systems then spread to other parts of the body. These cancer cells will grow in different places and invade healthy tissues. This condition is called metastasis and when this happens it becomes more difficult to treat.

Cancer of the colon is not synonymous to rectal cancer; however, these two conditions can occur simultaneously which results to colorectal cancer.

Cancer of the colon is generally attributed to the presence of polyps in the large intestine. However, aside from polyps, there are also other causes of the cancer of the colon which includes genes, eating habits, diet, lifestyle, and other medical factors.

Generally, symptoms of colon cancer do not manifest in the early stages that is why it is not diagnosed early. As the cancer grows and advances, the symptoms of this condition includes alternating constipation and diarrhea, ribbon-like stools, weakness or fatigue, pain during bowel movements, sudden weight loss, iron deficiency anemia, blood in the stool, and continual urges to defecate.

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the treatment choices for this type of cancer. In order to prevent having this type of cancer, it is necessary to have a healthy diet which consists of fiber rich foods.