"Colorectal Cancer Demystified: The Medical Side of the Disease"

Overview

Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) and

rectum (the last part of the large intestine). This can affect your bowel movement and habits and can cause stomach pain, bloating, cramping, and the like.

The disease, like all other cancers, is developed with the formation of a tumor, or uncontrollable cell growth. Colon cancer usually starts in the innermost lining, which contains cells that make & release mucus. Again, like all other cancers, this is caused by a colon cell mutation. This particular scenario is adenocarcinoma and it makes up 90% of colorectal cancer cases. In the case of colorectal cancer, they start off as ‘polyps’ or a cluster of cells. Most are considered okay and will not cause any harm, while others can develop into cancer. However, if it’s left untreated, it works its way to the most outward layer, risking the possibility of spreading to other parts of your body.

Causes, Remedies, and Precautions

Around 90% of colorectal cancer cases are caused by ‘environmental exposures’ or in other words, intake of food or other products. Often, it’s linked to high intake of processed meats and foods, along with drinking and smoking. However, it’s often that these activities conducted in one’s youth can lead to the development of the disease in later life. There are several risks associated with colorectal cancer including age (more common over 50), family history, and lifestyle factors as previously mentioned.

The unique thing about this cancer is that there often isn’t any symptoms early on. This is the reason screening is heavily advertised, especially for older adults, as the chances of catching it at a more deadlier stage is far more likely. General symptoms do include a change in bowel habits, stomach pain, bleeding in stool, and weight changes.

The remedies range from drugs to surgery, depending on the stage. At early stages, before it has spread past the colon wall, removing the polyp is often the procedure. If it has spread wider, it may require some removal of the colon itself. At later stages, where the cancer has gone past the colon wall and is at risk or is already at other organs, chemotherapy is often recommended to shrink the tumor for surgery. If removal and health is achieved, patients are often put on a drug to prevent possible remission. At stage 4, the last stage, the odds are very much not in one’s favor, and treatment is almost exclusively chemotherapy, and sometimes simply for relieving the symptoms.

It is a very treatable disease in its early stages before the tumors have spread outside the wall. However, once it has, the chances of survival plummet.

Naturally, the precautions that can be taken will be lifestyle ones. Adding fibers and less processed foods will be key, as well as limiting drinking and smoking, if not altogether forsaking it.

Other Facts

Colorectal cancer is the 3rd most common cancer in the world, and 2nd deadliest. Many studies attribute this to the rise of unhealthy diets, unmoving lifestyles and therefore a rise in obesity.

Often gastroenterologists are the ones to diagnose you with cancer and provide medicinal options for treatment or prevention of remission. Colorectal surgeons are the ones who actually remove the tumors and obviously, as this is cancer, oncologists and radiologists are often involved for later treatment involving chemotherapy and more.

Interesting News

Something quite interesting I found in my research is the rise of colorectal cancer multiplying in young adults in recent years. As I previously mentioned, a factor in the development is age, and screening is recommended to those over the age of 50. But, perhaps younger adults need to also keep an eye out as the diagnoses have doubled since 1995, and now there are recommendations for adults to get screened at 45. It appears that this will keep lower as this cancer has been moving up in deadliness and prevalence in recent years.