Colon and Rectal Cancer
Symptoms
The most common symptom of Colon/Rectal Cancer is painless bleeding through the rectum. Sometimes, patients may not be aware of the bleeding but have severe anemia. If you experience either painless bleeding through the rectum or severe anemia do consult your doctor.
The most common symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
- Change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
- Blood in the bowel movements
- Fatigue
- Low iron level (iron deficiency anemia)
- Black or dark-colored stool
Smoking increases the risk of colon cancer. There is medical evidence to suggest that smokers may also have less chance of a good treatment outcome for Colon Cancer.
Diets high in fat, particularly animal fat as found in red meat, and low in fiber may lead to constipation and accumulation of toxins that can harm the lining of the intestine. Hence, such diets can lead to colon cancer. Increased physical activity has been shown in many medical studies to decrease the risk of colon cancer It is also important to maintain a low fat, high fiber diet because people who are obese are at a higher risk for being afflicted with Colon Cancer.
Treatment
Several tests are available for colon/rectal cancer screening and to detect precancerous cells. These include colonoscopy, CT colonography, and flexible sigmoidoscopy.
The initial treatment of colon cancer usually involves surgery. During surgery, cancerous parts of the colon and surrounding tissues are removed. The lymph nodes within this surrounding tissue are examined to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the colon.
Chemotherapy is recommended for most people with stage III colon cancer (when the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes) and some people with (node-negative) colon cancer.
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Cancer
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