What Is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that starts in the rectum or colon,
which is the large intestine. Both of these organs are in the lower portion of
your digestive system.
The colon is also known as the large intestine, and the
rectum is at the end of the colon. According to the American
Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated one in 20 people will develop colorectal
cancer during their lifetime.
Your doctor can use staging as a guideline to figure out how far along
your cancer is. It’s important for your doctor to know the stage of your cancer
so they can come up with the best treatment plan for you and also so they can
give you an estimate of the long-term outlook. Stage 1 of colorectal cancer is
the earliest stage. The stages progress up to stage 4, which is the most
advanced stage. The stages of colorectal cancer are:
- Stage I cancer penetrates the lining, or mucosa, of the colon or rectum but hasn’t spread to the organ walls.
- Stage 2 cancer has spread to the walls of the colon or rectum but hasn’t affected the lymph nodes or nearby tissues yet.
- Stage 3 cancer has moved to the lymph nodes but not to other parts of the body yet. Usually, one to three lymph nodes are involved at this stage.
- Stage 4 cancer has spread to other distant organs, such as the liver or lungs.
What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer may not present any symptoms, especially in the
early stages. If you do experience symptoms, they may include:
- constipation
- diarrhea
- changes in stool color
- changes in stool shape, such as narrowed stool
- blood in the stool
- bleeding from the rectum
- unexplained weakness
- passing excessive gas
- fatigue
- unintended weight loss
- abdominal cramps
- abdominal pain
If you notice any of these symptoms, make an appointment with
your doctor to discuss a colon cancer screening.
What Causes Colorectal Cancer?
Researchers don’t know what causes colorectal cancer yet.
However, they do know that colorectal cancer develops when healthy cells become
abnormal. The abnormal cells divide and multiply faster than they should and
don’t die when they should. This leads to cell accumulation.
Precancerous Growths
Abnormal cells accumulate in the lining of the colon, forming
polyps, which are small, benign growths. Removing these growths through surgery
is a common prevention method. Untreated polyps can become cancerous.
Gene Mutations
Sometimes, colorectal cancer occurs in family members. This is
due to a gene mutation that passes from parent to child. These mutations don’t
guarantee that you’ll develop colorectal cancer, but they do increase your
chances.
Who Is at Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
There are some factors that may increase your risk of developing
colorectal cancer:
Unavoidable Factors
Some factors that increase your risk of getting colorectal cancer
are unavoidable. Getting older is one of them. Your chances of developing the
cancer increase after you reach the age of 50. Some other unavoidable risk
factors are:
- a prior history of colon polyps
- a prior history of bowel diseases
- a family history of colorectal cancer
- having a genetic syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- being of Eastern European Jewish or African-American descent
Avoidable Factors
Some risk factors for colorectal cancer are:
- being overweight or obese
- smoking
- a heavy use of alcohol
- having type 2 diabetes
- having a sedentary lifestyle
- consuming a diet high in processed foods or red meats
How Is Colorectal Cancer Diagnosed?
Early diagnosis of colorectal cancer gives you the best chance of
curing your colorectal cancer. Your doctor will start by getting information
about your medical and family history. They’ll also perform a physical exam.
The doctor may press on your abdomen or perform a rectal exam to determine the
presence of lumps or polyps.
Blood Testing
Your doctor may run some blood tests to get a better idea of
what’s causing your symptoms. Though there is no blood test that specifically
checks for colorectal cancer, liver function, and complete blood count tests can
rule out other diseases and disorders.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy involves the use of a long tube attached to a
camera to examine your colon. This procedure allows your doctor to see inside
your colon and rectum and note anything unusual. A colonoscopy also allows your
doctor to remove tissue from abnormal areas so they can send them to a
laboratory for analysis.
X-Ray
Your doctor may order an X-ray using a radioactive liquid called
barium. Your doctor will insert this liquid into the bowels through the use of
an enema. Once in place, it coats the lining of the colon and provides an
outline so an X-ray can be taken.
CT Scan
CT scans provide your doctor with a detailed image of your colon.
In the case of colorectal cancer, another name for a CT scan is a virtual
colonoscopy.
What Are the Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer?
Treatment of colorectal cancer depends on a variety of factors.
For example, the state of your overall health and the stage of your colorectal
cancer will help your doctor create an effective treatment plan.
Surgery
In the earliest stages of colorectal cancer, it might be possible
for your surgeon to remove cancerous polyps through surgery. During surgery, if
the polyp hasn’t attached to the wall of the bowels, you’ll likely have an
excellent outlook.
If your cancer has spread into your bowel walls, however, your
surgeon may need to remove a portion of the colon or rectum, along with any
neighboring lymph nodes. If at all possible, your surgeon will reattach the
remaining healthy portion of the colon to the rectum. If this isn’t possible,
they may perform a colostomy. This involves creating an opening in the
abdominal wall for the removal of waste. A colostomy is usually temporary.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs that kill cancerous cells.
In the case of colorectal cancer, chemotherapy is a common treatment after
surgery to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. Chemotherapy also controls
the growth of your tumor and provides symptom relief in late-stage cancer.
Radiation
Radiation uses a powerful beam of energy, similar to that used in
X-rays, to target and destroy cancerous cells before and after surgery.
Radiation treatment commonly occurs alongside chemotherapy.
Medication
In September of 2012, the U.S.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug Stivarga (regorafenib)
to treat patients with metastatic, or late-stage, colorectal cancer that doesn’t
respond to other types of treatment and has spread to other parts of the body.
This drug works by blocking enzymes that promote the growth of cancer cells.
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