What is colon cancer? What are the causes and symptoms?

Colon cancer is a cancer affecting the large intestine, also known as the colon, which is the last part of the digestive tract. The colon has several sections called the ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The ascending and transverse sections are called the proximal colon while the descending and sigmoid sections combined are called the distal colon. The colon is responsible for absorbing water and salt from food matter after it has traveled through the small intestine.

While colon cancer is more common in older adults, it can affect patients of any age. Colon cancer usually starts as a growth on the lining of the colon. Called polyps, these growths can initially be noncancerous and become cancerous over time. It is highly recommended that patients undergo preventative screenings to remove these polyps before they become cancerous. Symptoms of colon cancer include rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, abdominal discomfort, cramps, gas, and pain. Other symptoms include weakness, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss. Patients may also experience changes in bowel habits such as the feeling that the bowel has not been completely emptied, diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the consistency of their stool. Many people do not experience symptoms during the early stages of colon cancer, and symptoms can vary based on the cancer’s size and location within the colon. If patients are experiencing symptoms, they should make an appointment with their doctor as soon as possible. It is recommended that patients begin preventative screenings around the age of fifty, but they may need to get screened earlier if they are considered high risk. Risk factors that can increase a patient’s risk of colon cancer include age, a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, low fiber and high-fat diets, certain inherited syndromes, inflammatory intestinal conditions, obesity, diabetes, smoking, heavy alcohol use, radiation therapy for other cancers in the abdomen, and a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, African Americans have a higher risk of developing colon cancer.

What is the diagnosis and treatment like for colon cancer?

In order to diagnose colon cancer, the patient will undergo a colonoscopy procedure during which polyps will be removed and biopsies will be taken for testing. The doctor may also order blood tests. Further testing to determine the stage of cancer may also be required, and this may include additional CT scans. Colon cancer stages can range from 0 to IV, with the lowest stages of colon cancer being limited to the colon’s lining and the most advanced stage consisting of cancer that has metastasized to other parts of the body. If colon cancer has developed in the patient, there are several treatment methods available. These treatments can include surgery, radiation, or drug therapy (such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy). For early-stage colon cancer, cancerous polyps can be removed during a colonoscopy, using an endoscopic mucosal resection procedure, or during a minimally invasive laparoscopic surgical procedure. Surgery for advanced stages may include a partial colectomy or lymph node removal. For more advanced stages, surgery to create a way for waste to leave the body may also be necessary. Palliative care may also be required based on the treatment required.

Patients should talk to their doctor about the steps they can take to prevent colon cancer. Make an appointment with one of the specialists at Granite State Gastroenterology to learn more about preventive screenings.