Colon Cancer
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Description of Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is also referred to as rectal cancer or cancer of the bowel and is common for both genders over 50 years in the United States of America. Statistics show that one person in every 20 people in U.S is at a risk of colon cancer but if it is diagnosed early, the victim can survive. It is therefore recommended that patients be screened often in order to detect any condition that precedes the cancer. Research indicates that normal growths along the lining of colon can lead to gradual development of the cancer although the growths are not cancerous (Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer: A Guide for Patients 1). Although these growths can be operated and removed with no recurrence and are not a threat to the patient, some of them increase the risk of the victim developing colon cancer. When the cells in a normal growth become malignant, there are high chances of colon cancer developing as they divide abnormally without order. Such cells attack and destroy the neighboring tissues and lymphatic system that provides immunity to the body against diseases. Colon cancer thus spreads from the primary growth to secondary form through a process called metastasis and affects the rest of the body parts (Sack & Rothman 64-66).
There are several stages of colon cancer each with a unique description. At stage zero, the disease is very early and only in the innermost lining of the rectum or colon. Stage one is characterized by infection of more interior wall of the colon. When the cancerous cells invade the neighboring tissues to the colon, then the disease enters the stage two. At this stage, the cells have not yet spread to the lymphatic system, which gives immune to the body. Stage three of the disease involves invasion of the lymphatic nodes by the cancerous cells but at this stage, the cells have not spread to the rest of the body parts. The last stage involves the cancerous cells invading the rest of the body parts including lungs and liver. Finally, if the disease recurs in either colon or other parts of the body after treatment, then it is referred to as recurrent cancer (Sack & Rothman 64-68).
There is no known exact cause of the disease but a few risk factors are associated with colon cancer. Although the disease can rarely occur in teenage, it is common in people aged above 50 years. Diet high in fat and calories with little fiber is associated with colon cancer whereas vitamin D in fish liver oil has been found to prevent the disease. A condition known as polyposis that is inherited, which causes polyps to develop in colon is certainly a major cause of the disease. Medical history such as cancer of the ovary, breast or uterus is also a likely cause of colon cancer. Finally, Ulcerative colitis, which is inflammation of the colon lining, increases the chances of the victim developing the disease (Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer: A Guide for Patients 1).
Diagnosis of Colon Cancer
Diagnosis of colon cancer is done through analysis of a tissue in the laboratory either through a routine check or after a long time of doctors trying to find the cause of various symptoms. Most victims do not show prior symptoms of the colon cancer as in the early stage no symptom is caused by the tumors. However, someone who is diagnosed at a late stage may have experienced symptoms such as weight loss and cramping in the stomach (Sack & Rothman 64-66).
The test for colon cancer can be through stool testing, colonoscopy analysis and virtual colonoscopy. Doctors can also perform barium enema test or sigmoidoscopy test. Each of these tests has its advantages and drawbacks and it is therefore recommended for the patient to consult with the doctor to determine the most appropriate test for him or her. However, if the doctor suspects colon cancer, colonoscopy test is better because it involves the doctor inspecting the whole colon with a small camera. Diagnosis of colon cancer can only be final when a tissue sample from the colon is removed through a process called biopsy and examined in the laboratory to determine whether it contains cancer cells. If presence of cancer cells is confirmed in the laboratory analysis, the doctor proceeds to determine the stage of the colon cancer (Sack & Rothman 65-68).
Prognosis of Colon Cancer
Prognosis of colon cancer refers to the doctor’s expectation after the disease has been diagnosed. The outcome of the cancer depends on the stage of the colon cancer, the areas affected by the disease and type of the disease. Other determinants of colon cancer prognosis are the age of the patient and how the patient may respond to the medication as well as his or her general health. The doctor can also rely on statistics such as survival rates when one is diagnosed with the disease although this is just a prediction that cannot offer certainty for the outcome of the disease. The importance of colon cancer prognosis is that both the doctor and patient can plan for the treatment and change in lifestyle that the patient may need. After the prognosis, one can tell the possible course as well as the outcome of colon cancer such as whether the patient would recover or if the disease is likely to recur (Sack & Rothman 68-69).
Treatment for Colon Cancer
The first treatment for colon cancer in all the stages except the recurrent stage requires removal of the tumor. When the cancer is at stage zero, the tumor and a small area of tissues around the tumor are removed through local excision. All the cancer cells should be removed through surgery for the patient to be considered safe. Stage one tumors also require removal of the tumor and small amount of surrounding tissues with no further treatment. However, aggressive surgery is recommended to ensure all the tumors are removed. According to the reports offered by the American cancer society, the five-year percentage survival rate is at least 93. For stage two cancers, besides removing the cancerous tumors through surgery as well as the surrounding area, chemotherapy is recommended to avoid recurrence. However, at this stage chemotherapy does not have much advantage and is only restricted to patients with high-risk condition. This requires consultation with an oncologist to determine if chemotherapy is required at this stage. At the stage survival of the patient in the next five years after diagnosis is estimated to be 78%. Treatment of stage three cancers involves surgical removal of all the cancerous cells and lymph nodes affected by the cancer. In addition, chemotherapy is administered to the patient (Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer: A Guide for Patients 3-8). For the large tumors, the cancerous areas and surrounding tissues are subjected to radiations. The five-year survival rate is about sixty-four percent at this stage (Sack & Rothman 69-71).