Colon Cancer Symptoms and Treatment

Colon cancer is a type of cancer that attacks the colon or the last part of the human digestive system. This disease can diidap by all ages, while 90 percent of patients aged over 60 years.Most cases of colon cancer begins with the formation of clumps of cells called polyps are small adenoma. These clots then spread in an uncontrolled manner over time.

 
Symptoms of colon cancer
Here are some symptoms that can be felt by patients with colon cancer, among them:

• The presence of blood in the stool or even bleeding anus.
• Changing the texture density of dirt.
• The reduced weight.
• The body feels tired.
• Pain or cramping in the abdomen.
• Bloated.
• The increased frequency of bowel movements or diarrhea.
• Constipation.
• Loss of appetite.

Not all of these symptoms will be felt by the patient. Some have become frequent bowel movements, accompanied by blood in stools and some who are not accompanied by blood, but felt pain in his stomach.

See your doctor if you experience symptoms of colon cancer, especially if experiencing diarrhea alternating with constipation for more than three weeks. Please be aware also if you have reached the age of 50 years upwards and feel these symptoms.

Causes of colon cancer
Cell growth in certain areas of the body that is uncontrollable and destructive is a cause of cancer. In colon cancer, the growth begins in the clumps of cells in the intestinal lining the inside, then spread and destroy other cells nearby, or even to some other body areas.

Initially, the cells lining the intestine produced are harmless and beneficial to maintain normalcy body functions. It is not yet known what triggers these cells are damaged, turn into cancer cells and grow uncontrollably.

Although the cause of colon cancer is not known, the following factors may increase a person's risk of the disease, including:

• Too much red meat and
• Lack of fiber.
• Consuming alcoholic beverages.
• Smoke
• Are overweight or obese.
• Aged 60 years and above.
• Suffer from digestive disorders, one of which is chronic ulcerative colitis or inflammation of the large intestine.
• Suffering from diabetes.
• Lack of exercise.
• Having close relatives, such as parents or siblings, who suffered from colon cancer.
• Lynch syndrome.
• Suffering from a genetic problem that causes the growth of clumps of cells or polyps in the colon. This condition is called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP).

Stages of development of colon cancerThere are four steps that determine the severity of colon cancer, including:

• Stage 1. At this stage the cancer has begun to grow in the large intestine, but has not spread because they obstructed the intestinal wall.
• Stage 2. At this stage the cancer has spread throughout the colon wall, even through it.
• Stage 3. At this stage, the lymph nodes are located adjacent to the large intestine had been eaten away by cancer.
• Stage 4. This is the most severe level of the spread of colon cancer. At this stage, the cancer has the further spread and attack other organs, such as lungs and liver.

Determining severity of colon cancer can be done through diagnosis. It is useful in helping physicians to provide appropriate treatment.

The diagnosis of colon cancer
To determine whether a patient is suffering from colon cancer, the doctor will first ask the symptoms are felt. In addition, a doctor also will ask if the patient has a specific condition that can increase the risk of developing colon cancer or if close relatives of colon cancer patients.

After the explanation of the patients had, the doctor will perform a simple inspection by checking the condition of the patient's anus to see the swelling. An instrument called a sigmoidoscopy may be used by doctors if necessary. Sigmoidoscopy is a tool shaped small hose-mounted light and a camera on the end to be inserted into the colon through the anus. Through the monitor, the doctor can see if there are signs of colon cancer.

In addition to sigmoidoscopy, there are a couple of tests that can be done to detect the presence of colon cancer, especially if the doctor feels sigmoidoscopy alone is not enough. Some of these checks are:

• Colonoscopy. The concept is the same examination as sigmoidoscopy. Only on colonoscopy, a tool used longer so as to reach deeper into the colon. The camera is mounted on the end of a colonoscopy is able to provide the parts that are not normal colon from cancer attacks. Even if necessary, a biopsy or sampling can be done with a special tool that is included on colonoscopy. Samples are then examined in the laboratory to detect the presence of cancer. Before a colonoscopy, the patient will be given laxatives by doctors that his stomach is clean of dirt, so that the results obtained from the observation process will be much better.
• Virtual colonoscopy. This examination also called CT colonography. This examination is usually performed if the patient can not undergo regular colonoscopy for certain medical reasons. In the virtual colonoscopy, a special hose will be inserted into the anus. The gas will then be pumped through a hose, so that the patient will expand a little gut. After that, doctors will be able to observe the state of the intestine from all angles with the help of CT scan.

Colon cancer treatment
Stadium or the severity of the cancer will determine what type of treatment will be done by a doctor. Here are the three types of primary treatment in colon cancer cases.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a way to kill cancer cells through the administration of a number of drugs. These drugs can be taken in tablet form, infusion, or a combination of both. Some examples of colon cancer drugs is cetuximab and bevacizumab.

In the case of colon cancer, chemotherapy is usually performed before surgery with the aim to shrink the tumor, relieve symptoms felt by the patient, or slow the spread of cancer. Chemotherapy can also be given postoperatively to prevent cancer from coming back.

The timing of chemotherapy is usually divided into several cycles, depending on the severity of the cancer. Most colon cancer patients usually undergo chemotherapy infusion sessions for a few hours or a day in two to three weeks. Each cycle of chemotherapy are separated by intervals of rest for a few weeks with the goal of keeping the patient can recuperate from the effects of chemotherapy. Some side effects of chemotherapy are:

• Nausea
• Gag
• Tired
• Feet and hands feel itchy or hot
• Sprue
• Diarrhea
• Hair loss

Usually these side effects will go away after chemotherapy treatment ended.

Radiotherapy
The purpose of radiotherapy as chemotherapy, which is to kill cancer cells. But in radiotherapy treatment method performed by using radiation.

Before surgery, radiotherapy can be done to reduce tumor size or relieve the symptoms when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. While postoperative radiotherapy is done in order to prevent the cancer does not return.

Some of the side effects of radiotherapy are:

• Being small often extravagant water
• Diarrhea
• Tired
• Nausea
• The skin around the anus or pelvis feels hot

There are two types of radiotherapy, including:

• External radiotherapy. In this method, the cancer cells are destroyed by emitting high levels of radiation waves to cancer therapy Usually this is done five days a week, for one to five weeks. Each treatment session will take about ten to fifteen minutes.
• Internal radiotherapy. In this method of colon cancer will be depreciated using radioactive hose is placed next to the cancer. Internal radiotherapy is usually performed as a session before the surgery.

Operation
This type of surgery colon cancer treatment depends on the severity of the spread of the cancer itself. If the cancer is diagnosed in the early stages, surgery usually can be done through a colonoscopy to remove the cancerous growth. If you can not go through a colonoscopy, it can be removed through surgery 'keyhole' or laparoscopy.

The second procedure is called a colostomy operation. This surgery is done if the cancer has spread through the walls of the intestines. In this operation, a part of the large intestine cancer encroached be lifted. In addition, the surrounding lymph nodes will also be removed.

If the patient's health is very bad due to the spread of cancer that has been getting worse, then the objective of the surgery is to relieve the patient's symptoms. With combined with chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the move is expected to increase the patient's chances of survival.

Prevention of colon cancer
We can prevent colon cancer by minimizing the risk of the disease. Indeed, several factors lead to cancer, such as family medical history and genetic conditions, may pose a risk for colon cancer to undermine someone. But if we live a healthy life, it is not impossible that risk to be lost. Some tips for preventing colon cancer are:

• Regular exercise. It is advisable to exercise regularly for two and a half hours a week. The types of exercise you can do for example is brisk walking or bicycling.
• Healthy food. To avoid the risk of colon cancer, eat foods rich in fiber, such as fruits, nuts, or cereal. Expand consume fish and less meat consumption.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Reduce alcohol.
• Avoid cigarette smoke. If you are active smokers, it is advisable to stop now in order to avoid the risk of cancer. As for you who do not smoke, you should avoid self secondhand smoke.

The life chances of colon cancer
Chance of patient recovery will depend on how severe the cancer has spread at the time of diagnosis. It is estimated that approximately 80 percent of patients with colon cancer still have a chance to live at least one year after diagnosis. Not even half of the 80 percent of these patients can still have a chance to live longer in the future, which is at least 10 years.

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