CANCER OF COLON

Cancer of colon, also known as colorectal cancer is the malignant disease of colon and rectum characterized by growths in colon rectum and appendix. Colon cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world. It causes 0.6 million deaths every year. The polyps in colon are mushroom shaped and are known as adenomatous polyps. These tumors don’t spread very fast to the other sites.

Males are more prone to have colon cancer as compared to women because of more eating habits like tobacco, smoking and drinking alcohol makes them more prone to develop cancer. It is seen in age groups above 40 years commonly. If it is detected before the age of 20 years, it is associated with familial polyposis.

Colon cancer can occur due to various reasons. The strongest contributor to it is genetic history. It may occur in families. After familial history, there is diet which induces development of polyps. Other causes include precarcinogic conditions like ulcerative colitis, adenoma etc.

The cancer of colon can spread to the other organs by blood or through lymph. It may pass to other sites in the colon itself by transfer through colon. The colorectal cancer is characterized by dull pains, anemia, fatigue, dyspnea, enlarged liver, indigestion and jaundice. The physician can detect the palpable mass over the right region of the lower abdomen.

In the colon cancer patient’s intestines may get blocked leading to intestinal obstruction. Stools may contain blood and mucus can pass. There is distention of the abdomen due to the growth.

This type of cancer can be treated through surgery only. The patient may present with complete obstruction of the intestine that must be relieved before the treatment of the growth. The surgical removal of the growth is the best treatment. With it, there are reduced chances of bleeding, perforation of intestines, formation of the fistulae and chances of infection.