 Over 180,000 people in North America will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2009. The majority of people who develop colorectal cancer have no known risk factors.
may exhibit no signs in the early stages and when signs do appear, they can be varied, depending on the amount of cancer in the colon, the intestines and where it is located. When the cancer tumors are located near the end of the colon they can produce specific symptoms compared to elsewhere in the colon. Some of these known symptoms of include;
- A change in bowel habits that last more than approximately two weeks, this can be diarrhea, constipation or in the consistency of the stool.
- Blood in the stool, rectal bleeding, or even blockage.
- The body feeling like the bowels have not emptied completely.
- Abdominal pain when there is no bowel movement.
- Constant abdominal pain such as cramps and gas.
- Weight loss.
- Fatigue.
- Persistent nausea or vomiting.
- Small ribbon like stools.
- Rectal pain is an uncommon symptom in most patients.
Remember the symptoms vary from case to case and some cases do not even cause any symptoms at all. In many cases, symptoms appear only when the cancer is at an advanced stage, or has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs of the body. For this reason routine screening to detect the condition when it is treatable, is vital. However, signs of blood in the stool can be caused by hemorrhoids and is one of the leading reasons why is not detected early in some patients. Some medications and foods can make the stool appear black, which is also a sign of dried blood.
When symptoms do occur, m edical care and diagnosis should be done when there are these symptoms:
• Changes in bowel habits, such as chronic constipation or diarrhea, or frequent and unexplained alternating between diarrhea and constipation.
• Rectal bleeding or bloody stools that tends to be bright red if the cancer is located in the lower part of the intestine, in the rectum or anus, and black or very dark if the tumor is in the upper regions of the intestine;
• A change in the shape of the stool, typically a narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days ;
• Continuous sensation, discomfort or urge to have a bowel movement, particularly if the need to open the bowel does not resolve after passing the stool.
• Persistent abdominal discomfort with frequent, localized cramping pain in the lower abdomen • Frequent gas pains and nausea that persist for more than a few days.
• Constant tiredness, weakness or paleness, often due to iron-deficiency anemia, associated with passing bloody stools.
• Weight loss with no known reason Symptoms may be caused by conditions unrelated to cancer but you should consult your physician if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Symptoms may be caused by conditions unrelated to cancer but you should consult your physician if you experience any of the symptoms listed above.
Most cases of CRC start as non-cancerous growths called polyps. These benign tumors can be routinely removed during an exploratory procedure called a colonoscopy which can actually prevent the development of colorectal cancer (CRC).
There are several types of colon polyps:
- Adenomas: This is a type of polyps that can potentially become cancerous and can usually be removed during a colonoscopy or segmoidoscopy.
- Infalmmatory polyps: these are polyps, which are associated with ulcerative colitis. This can increase the chances of .
- Hyperplastic polyps: These are polyps that are rarely associated with .
- Precancerous growths usually occur in clumps of cells, which will be attached to the wall of the large intestines. These can appear to be a mushroom shape growth on the wall of the large intestine.
- The nonpolypoid lesion is often recessed on the wall of the colon and while less common, they are difficult to detect.
Your physician can arrange a sigmoidoscopy or a colonoscopy, and a routine test for bloody stools. The sooner the cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat.
Knowing the risk factors can help you take action and get screening before symptoms develop.
Family history
Some rare disease conditions such as Familial Adenomatous Polyps (FAP) and Lynch syndrome (a genetic condition that predisposes certain families to , even when polyps are not present) are present in certain families and may make an individual more likely to develop cancer of the colon or the rectum. Inheriting defective genes causes approximately 10% of colorectal cancers. If many family members have had colorectal cancer, your chances increase even more.
History
Even when colorectal cancer has been completely removed, new cancers may still develop in other areas of the colon and the rectum. Research shows that women with a history of cancer of the ovary, uterus, or breast have a somewhat increased chance of developing colorectal cancer. Also, a person who has already had colorectal cancer may develop this disease a second time.
Recurrent intestinal polyps
Polyps are benign growths in the colon or rectum. are fairly common in people over age 50. Some types of polyps increase a person's risk of developing colorectal cancer. While most polyps are somewhat harmless, some particular types do pose a risk towards colorectal cancer, especially if they are large and there are many of them.
IBS / Ulcerative Colitis
IBS and Ulcerative Colitis are conditions in which the colon is inflamed over a long period of time and causes ulcers in the lining, can increase the risk of . Having either of these condition increases a person's chance of developing colorectal cancer.
Age
Colorectal cancer is more likely to occur as people get older. About 90% of colorectal cancers are found in people over the age of 50. Even still, the other 10% does occur in younger ages, even, in rare cases, in the teens.
Diet
Colorectal cancer seems to be associated with diets that are high in fat and calories and low in fiber. Eating foods that are high in fat and low in fiber may increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
Physical Inactivity
A sedentary lifestyle and not enough physical activity has been reported to be associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer.
The System of Cancer Factors addresses bodily conditions of Colon Cancer. Please take the time right now to learn and understand how the System of Cancer Factors works. How it works.
|
