Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is one of the most common malignant diseases, which is equally common in both sexes, most often in people over 50 years old. Colon cancer ranks third in frequency after lung and breast cancer.
Colon cancer is a malignant tumor that can be localized on any part of the colon, or on its final part (rectum).
The exact cause of colon cancer is not fully known. It most often begins with a change in the intestinal mucosa or the appearance of growths on the inner wall of the intestine (adenomatous polyps) which, over a long period of years, can change and grow into a malignant change. It is considered that they arise as a result of the action of hereditary factors, environmental factors, diet and lifestyle.
Risk factors:
– age of 50 and over;
– inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease);
– diet – too much red meat and animal fats, and little grains, fruits and vegetables;
– physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes;
– excessive or frequent consumption of alcohol;
– smoking.
Colon cancer symptoms
Colon cancer most often occurs without symptoms, and when symptoms appear, colon cancer is usually already advanced.
– sudden weight loss – loss of 10 kilograms or more in six months or less without knowing the cause;
– fatigue and exhaustion that do not go away after rest;
– abdominal cramps, cramps, bloating – colon cancer can affect bowel habits;
– blood in the stool – sometimes bright red spots in a small concentration can be observed. The stool can be very dark or black, which requires a mandatory visit to the doctor. A positive stool examination test for occult bleeding does not mean that malignancy exists, because it can occur in the presence of polyps, hemorrhoids and inflammatory bowel diseases;
– anemia – control of blood counts, drop in hemoglobin and iron can be an early sign of colorectal cancer;
– changes in bowel movements – constipation or diarrhoea, incomplete emptying of the bowels, false calls.
Diagnosis of colon cancer
Diagnosing colon cancer nowadays is not a problem thanks to modern endoscopic diagnostics.
In the presence of any of the aforementioned complaints, it is necessary to consult a gastroenterologist.
After a thorough anamnesis, a colonoscopy will be performed – an endoscopic method that has both diagnostic and therapeutic significance. It provides the best view of all the structures of the large intestine in order to detect a certain change in the intestinal mucosa. In addition to the observation of the mucous membrane during the procedure, depending on the findings, this method provides the possibility of precisely taking a sample from the suspicious change for pathohistological analysis in order to establish a final diagnosis.
Also, in the case of noticeable polyps, their removal is performed at the same time, which is painless and represents a definitive therapy in these conditions. Complications of colonoscopy are very rare, and the eventual existence of bleeding after a biopsy of the change stops spontaneously.
Colonoscopy is the gold standard in the diagnosis of changes in the large intestine and should be performed preventively in case of family burden after the age of 40.
Additional diagnostic procedures:
– computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis, chest or X-ray of the heart and lungs;
– laboratory analyzes of blood and urine.
After diagnosis, indications for surgical treatment are set and the patient is referred to an abdominal surgeon. Depending on the pathohistological findings and additional diagnostic procedures, the patient is further referred to the oncology council.
Prevention:
– proper nutrition;
– physical activity;
– examination by a gastroenterologist in the presence of hemorrhoids, changes in bowel movements and repeated inflammatory processes should be carried out at least once a year;
– stool examination for occult (invisible) bleeding from three consecutive stool samples should be mandatory for people over 40 years of age once a year.