The digestive system of the body includes the colon. It is the digestive system which helps the body expel waste by removing and processing nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbs, fats, proteins, and water) from meals. The digestive system comprises of the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. The major parts of the large intestine include the colon and the rectum. Colon cancer develops in the colon of the large intestine which is the final part of the digestive tract. Colon cancer can affect any individual of any age, but it often affects older people. Small, benign (noncancerous) cell clusters called polyps commonly grow on the interior of the colon as the first signs of the condition. Some of these polyps may eventually develop into colon cancer. Due to this, medical professionals advise routine screening exams to help prevent colon cancer by locating and eliminating polyps before they develop into cancer.
For healthy individuals who do not exhibit any symptoms, doctors advise several screening tests to look for non-cancerous colon polyps or indicators of colon cancer. The probability of curing colon cancer is high in its early stages. Screening can also lower your risk of dying from colon cancer.
Doctors typically advise starting colon cancer screenings around age 45 for persons with an average risk of the disease.
Also Read: Colorectal Cancer
Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer
Colon Cancer Diagnosis
Your doctor may suggest one or more of the following tests and procedures if your signs and symptoms suggest that you may have colon cancer:
A physician can use one of the tests listed below to check for colon cancer:
It is a diagnostic procedure that looks for blood traces in stool samples, which may be an indicator of diseases like colorectal cancer. It usually occurs after seeing some blood in the stools.
It is a screening procedure in which your doctor views the insides of your colon using a long, narrow tube that is attached to a small camera.
It is a minimally invasive medical procedure that examines the large intestine from the rectum to the sigmoid colon, which is the closest portion of the colon.
A healthcare provider must conduct a colonoscopy to confirm the diagnosis if the outcomes of your FIT or sigmoidoscopy point to colon cancer. Additional tests are frequently necessary to establish the size of the tumour and whether it has spread outside of the colon if they discover colon cancer. They may do diagnostic procedures, including CT, MRI, and X-ray imaging of the chest, abdomen, and liver. In some cases, diagnosing the stage may not be possible until after the colon surgery. A pathologist can evaluate the main tumour and the lymph nodes removed following surgery to help establish the disease's stage.
Colon cancer staging is important in choosing the most effective treatment strategy. The TNM staging technique helps to stage cases of colon cancer. The system takes into account the following things:
T denotes the size of the initial tumour and whether or not the colon's wall has been affected by the cancer's growth or its metastasis to nearby organs or tissues.
N stands for whether neighbouring lymph nodes have been colonized by cancer cells.
M denotes if cancer has spread (metastasized) from the colon to the lungs or liver, among other organs.
Metastasis denotes the spread of cancer cells to organs outside of the colon. This condition is also known as stage IV colon cancer or advanced colon cancer. If the cancer is spread to the adjacent organs, then it is Stage III colon cancer, and if it affects other organs as well, then the cancer has developed into Stage IV. If the cancer is diagnosed in both the rectum and the colon, then it can be colorectal cancer.
Treatment Options for Colon Cancer
There are various treatment options available for colon cancer based on various factors. The treatment will be according to the tumour stage and the patient's condition.
The surgeon may be able to surgically remove malignant polyps when colon cancer is still in its early stages. A good prognosis of whether the polyp hasn't grown into the gut wall.
The surgeon might also have to remove some of the lymph nodes close to the colon or rectum if the cancer has spread to the gut walls. Moreover, the remaining healthy section of the colon may be able to be reattached to the rectum by your surgeon. In case this is not possible, then a colostomy may take place. To remove waste, the surgeon will make an opening in the abdominal wall. A colostomy can be either short-term or long-term.
It uses medication to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy is frequently administered following surgery to patients with colon cancer to destroy any remaining malignant cells. The growth of cancers is also slowed down by chemotherapy.
The following are some examples of colon cancer chemotherapy drugs:
Before and after surgery, radiation uses a potent energy beam, comparable to that in X-rays, to target and eliminate malignant cells. Chemotherapy is frequently used in conjunction with radiation therapy.
The primary method to diagnose colon cancer is colonoscopy, which helps to see the insides of the organs and detect in case of any usual growth or tumour. However, additional tests might be necessary to confirm the diagnosis. An early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent the metastasis of cancer and help achieve a cure for it. So, it is important to consult a doctor immediately in case of signs and symptoms to avoid any further complications.
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