Colon Cancer

What is colon cancer?

Colon cancer affects the large intestine (colon), which connects your small intestine to your rectum. Cancerous growths (tumors) form from mutated cells that grow rapidly and don’t have the limited lifespan of healthy cells. Without treatment, colon cancer can result in premature death.

Most colon cancers originate in small growths called polyps that occasionally develop in the colon and rectum. Polyps are small nodules of tissue that are usually harmless, but sometimes mutate and become cancerous.  

Undergoing routine screening for colon cancer is vital for the early identification of the disease. Treatment at an early stage in the cancer’s development significantly increases your chances of survival.  

What causes colon cancer?

The root cause of colon cancer isn’t clear. However, certain risk factors increase your likelihood of developing the disease:

• Family history of colon cancer
• Having inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
• History of breast, pancreatic, ovarian, or uterine cancer
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Having juvenile polyposis
• Long-term exposure to chlorine or asbestos
• Having hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer

Some research indicates that a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in red meat and animal products reduces your risk of colon cancer. 

What symptoms does colon cancer cause?

Typical colon cancer symptoms include rectal bleeding, chronic diarrhea, lower abdominal pain, and unexpected weight loss. However, these symptoms are unlikely to begin before the disease reaches an advanced stage.

Regular colon cancer screening is far more effective than waiting for symptoms to appear. Stool sample lab tests are useful as a first step. They can identify whether you have blood in your colon but don’t determine the cause. The most effective screening involves a colonoscopy.

This procedure uses a small camera on a flexible pipe (colonoscope) to examine your colon. Not only can your doctor identify early signs of cancer, like polyp growth, but they can also remove any polyps to prevent them from becoming cancerous.

What treatments are available for colon cancer?

Options that might feature in your treatment plan for colon cancer include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Immunotherapy or biological therapy 
• Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy typically helps by relieving pain rather than treating the tumor.

Without timely treatment, colon cancer can metastasize (spread) into other parts of your body. This makes it much harder to treat successfully. Patients who receive treatment before their cancer metastasizes have about a 90% survival rate, while the five-year survival rate for those with metastasized cancer is only around 11%.

For expert treatment of colon cancer, call Advanced Cancer Care of New Jersey, PC, today or book an appointment online.