Colon Rectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is also known as colon or rectal cancer because it is a cancer that is found in either the colon or the rectum. In most cases colorectal cancer will begin as a polyp that develops on the lining of the colon and in most cases in benign. Even though these polyps may be benign at one point, they can turn cancerous at any time and when they do they will continue to grow and spread until detected.

It is important to know what puts you at risk for colorectal cancer and how you can prevent it. Even more so, regular screenings and checkups are crucial to catching colorectal cancer especially because polyps can easily be removed before they pose any danger to you. Though there are always different things that cause colorectal cancer and no one ever knows what that could be for them specifically, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is one of the most important ways to guard yourself from developing colorectal cancer.

Understanding what the symptoms are for colorectal cancer along with knowing if you are at risk at all because of your lifestyle choices or family medical history are your two best ways to measure whether you might have colon cancer, or to put yourself on guard to recognize the symptoms. Unlike other cancers which sometimes make patients very ill with the identifiable symptoms, colon cancer has very insignificant symptoms for most individuals. There are a few things to watch for though if you suspect you might have colorectal cancer including, bleeding in the stool, a change in bowel habits all of a sudden, abdominal pain, anemia and sudden weight loss.

If an individual does present with colorectal cancer there are three basic types of treatment available which sometimes may be used together to cut out the cancer entirely. The first and most often used is one of several different types of surgery, that basically seek to remove or kill the cancer where ever it may be in the colon. If the cancer is discovered early on and has not had a lot of time to grow it is easier to remove the cancer without affecting the colon entirely. In cases where the cancer is larger it may be necessary to cut out and then reattach ends of the colon or to attach a colorectal bag to a stoma in the stomach. Other types of surgery attempt to kill cancer where it is in the colon while avoiding removal of the cancer and any of the colon.

The two other types of colorectal cancer treatment which are often used in addition to surgery are radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Both of these types of treatment are very aggressive, but they also have a really good rate of success making them a standard practice by doctors. Even after treatment though, it is necessary to continue care for colorectal cancer as there is always the chance that cancer cells can develop again on any new polyps that might appear on the lining of your colon. Always be diligent in obtaining screenings and maintaining your health.

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. And it occurs most often in people older than 50. With 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world. When it is found early, it is easily treated and often cured. But because it usually is not found early, it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Knowing what are the symptoms of colon cancer is very important because it is easily treated if it is found early. The key is to find it as early as possible.

The first symptoms of colon cancer are usually vague, like bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue (tiredness). Local (bowel) symptoms are rare until the tumor has grown to a large size. Generally, the nearer the tumor is to the anus, the more bowel symptoms there will be.

The cecum and ascending colon are on the right side of your abdomen. Cancer in this area may bleed, causing blood in the stool and symptoms of anemia, including fatigue and weakness. The amount of blood may be small and so well mixed with stool that your stool may look normal. The transverse colon goes across your body from right to left. Cancer here may cause abdominal cramps. The descending colon and the S-shaped sigmoid colon are on the left side of your abdomen and join the rectum. Cancer here may cause narrower stools and bright red blood in the stool.

The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer in the United States is about 7%. Colorectal cancer can take many years to develop and early detection of colorectal cancer greatly improves the chances of a cure. If you or your doctor thinks you have colon cancer then you will need a test, called a colonoscopy, that lets the doctor see the inside of your entire colon and rectum. During this test, your doctor will remove polyps or take tissue samples from any areas that don't look normal.

Cancer is a condition that has become all too popular and moving thousands of people. There are loads of various types of cancer. Some of the more common types include; breast cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer.

Out of these, colon cancer - also referred to as colorectal cancer - is the most popular. According to health stats 1 out of 17 people that reside in the United States only will be diagnosed with colon cancer. It has been rated the third most common cancer that men will be diagnosed with.

The things that makes this so deathly is how hard it is to diagnose it in the early stage. There are numerous contrasting types of it that will bear upon a person differently. Some are more extreme than others and if they are not spotted early there is no hopeful treatment for the patient.

Adenocarcinomas

This type is the most popular type of colon cancer that will start in a patient's glands. This type has two distinct subtypes that include; signet ring cell and mutinous. 90 - 95% of people who are diagnosed with colon cancer will suffer from the adenocarcinomas type.

Leiomyosarcomas

This type will start out inside of the smooth muscle that is within the colon. Less than 2% of people who are suffer from colon cancer will be diagnosed with this type. They also have an increased chance of recovering.

Lymphomas

Lymphomas is a rare type that ordinarily begins inside the rectum before moving to the colon. It is viable for them to start out in other parts of the body. When this takes place the cancer has an increased risk of spreading to the colon before traveling to the rectum at a faster pace.

Melanomas

This is also a rare type that will commonly form in a different area of a patient's body before it spreads to the colon and the rectum. Not even 2% of people diagnosed with colon cancer will be diagnosed with this condition.

Neuroendocrine Tumors

These tumors have been separated into two classifications; indolent and aggressive. The aggressive type are neuroendocrine tumors that can be large or small cell. Carcinoid tumors are indolent.