An Overview Of Colorectal Cancer
Cancer in the bowel that affects the colon and rectum is known as colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 22 individuals have colorectal cancer. It is the second most fatal cancer in women and the third most fatal in men. Advancements in screening techniques and improvements in treatments have, however, decreased this fatality rate significantly.
Colorectal cancer can be nonthreatening, non-cancerous, or malignant. Malignant cancer can spread to other parts of the body and can be fatal in general.
Symptoms
Here are the symptoms of colorectal cancer.
Here are the symptoms of colorectal cancer.
- Changes in bowel habits
- Constipation or diarrhea
- The feeling of a nonempty bowel after bowel movements
- Rectal bleeding
- Spots of blood in feces
- Abdominal pain
- A feeling o abdominal fullness, even with an empty stomach
- Weight loss
- Fatigue
- Iron deficiency
Treatment
The doctor and surgeon will devise a treatment plan, depending on the location and stage of cancer. They will also analyze whether or not cancer is recurrent.
Common ways to treat colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiography.
The doctor and surgeon will devise a treatment plan, depending on the location and stage of cancer. They will also analyze whether or not cancer is recurrent.
Common ways to treat colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiography.
Surgery
Surgery is the most common option to treat colorectal cancer. It aims at removing malignant tumors and other affected lymph nodes to keep cancer from spreading. The surgeon will reconnect the bowel, but sometimes he may have to remove the rectum along with the affected part of the colon. In such cases, he will bring the active end of the bowel out through an incision in the belly to create a stoma. The patient will then have to wear an ostomy bag over the stoma to manage stool evacuations. This bowel diversion can be permanent or temporary. Surgery during the early stage can remove cancer entirely. Performing surgery during advanced cancer stages will, however, ease the symptoms.
Surgery is the most common option to treat colorectal cancer. It aims at removing malignant tumors and other affected lymph nodes to keep cancer from spreading. The surgeon will reconnect the bowel, but sometimes he may have to remove the rectum along with the affected part of the colon. In such cases, he will bring the active end of the bowel out through an incision in the belly to create a stoma. The patient will then have to wear an ostomy bag over the stoma to manage stool evacuations. This bowel diversion can be permanent or temporary. Surgery during the early stage can remove cancer entirely. Performing surgery during advanced cancer stages will, however, ease the symptoms.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy refers to the use of medicine or chemical that destroys cancerous cells. This method shrinks cancer significantly before surgery.
Your surgeon may recommend you get targeted therapy, which is a kind of chemotherapy, to stop the development of proteins that promote cancer growth in the colon. This method might result in fewer side effects as compared to other types of chemotherapy. Drugs used during this method may include bevacizumab (Avastin) and ramucirumab (Cyramza).
A study suggests that chemotherapy reduces the chance of cancer recurrence and death in patients with advanced colon cancer.
Chemotherapy refers to the use of medicine or chemical that destroys cancerous cells. This method shrinks cancer significantly before surgery.
Your surgeon may recommend you get targeted therapy, which is a kind of chemotherapy, to stop the development of proteins that promote cancer growth in the colon. This method might result in fewer side effects as compared to other types of chemotherapy. Drugs used during this method may include bevacizumab (Avastin) and ramucirumab (Cyramza).
A study suggests that chemotherapy reduces the chance of cancer recurrence and death in patients with advanced colon cancer.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy aims at killing cancerous cells by using a high energy radiation beam. This therapy is the most popular way to treat colorectal cancer. The surgeon may decide to use it before surgery to shrink the tumor. Using it after surgery can lower the chances of cancer recurrence.
Radiation therapy aims at killing cancerous cells by using a high energy radiation beam. This therapy is the most popular way to treat colorectal cancer. The surgeon may decide to use it before surgery to shrink the tumor. Using it after surgery can lower the chances of cancer recurrence.
Prevention
Prevention is the most ideal and non-invasive way of treating colorectal cancer. Here is what you can do to prevent colorectal cancer.
Prevention is the most ideal and non-invasive way of treating colorectal cancer. Here is what you can do to prevent colorectal cancer.
- Going for regular cancer screenings can help you get rid of the problem before it even begins. Going for cancer screening becomes even more crucial if you have a family history of colorectal cancer.
- You may want to stay away from fast foods and other items that are proven disadvantageous for gut health. Alternatively, you will need to add fibers, fruits, vegetables, and high-quality carbohydrates to your diet.
- Regular exercise can help you lower the risk of colorectal cancer significantly.
- Make sure that you are not overweight. Being overweight can also increase the risk of colon cancer.