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Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is a cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon) or rectum. These two organs are located in the lower part of the human digestive system. The rectum is at the end of the large intestine.
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Keyterms: Cancer, colon, rectum, large intestine, organ, human digestive system, rectal cancer, diarrhoea, constipation
What is Colon Cancer?
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Colorectal cancer begins in the colon or rectum. Colon cancer occurs when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably. These cancers may also be called colon or rectal cancer, depending on where they begin. Colon cancer and rectal cancer are often grouped together because they share many common characteristics.
Colon Cancer
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Symptoms of Colon Cancer
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Colorectal cancer may not cause symptoms right away. In fact, many of the symptoms of colon cancer may be caused by other problems, such as infections, haemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease. Some of the common symptoms are as follows:
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhoea, constipation, or constipation of stools, that lasts more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that does not improve as a result
Symptoms of Colon Cancer
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in your stool that can make it appear dark brown or black, cramps or abdominal (stomach) pain
- weakness and tiredness
- weight loss without effort
Causes of Colon Cancer
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Inherited syndromes can also be a factor in increasing the risk of developing colorectal cancer. The two most common are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC). Genetics also plays an important role in the cause of colon cancer.
Causes of Colon Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a curable cancer if treated in the early stages. If left untreated, cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body, including the bones, liver, and lungs.
Some of the common causes of Colon cancer are:
- Alcohol consumption.
- Tobacco consumption.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Lifestyle changes
- A diet low in fruits and vegetables.
- A diet is low in fibre and high in fat, or a diet high in processed meats.
- Lack of regular physical exercise.
- Age-related factors.
Conditions Related to Colon Cancer
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- Age is one of the conditions related to Colon Cancer. When age increases the risk factor of getting colon cancer also increases.
- Inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
- A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis.
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Stages of Colon Cancer
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After colon cancer has been diagnosed, tests are done to find out the extent of the spread of the tumour. These are divided into four stages.
Stage 1 (Tis): This stage is called carcinoma. Here, the cancer is at its earliest stage and the tumour has not grown beyond the inner layer of the colon or rectum.
Stage 2 (T1): Here the tumour has grown beyond the inner layer of the colon or rectum and has spread to the submucosa tissue layer.
Stages of Colon Cancer
Stage 3 (T2): In this stage, the tumour would have spread beyond the tissue layer to the thick muscular layer of muscularis propria.
Stage 4 (T3): In this stage, cancer has spread through all layers of the colon and rectum and has attached itself to other surrounding organs.
Treatments related to colon cancer
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Treatment for colorectal cancer depends on the size, location, and extent of the spread of cancer.
Treatments related to colon cancer
Common treatments include surgery to remove cancer, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Things to Remember
- The lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is 4-5% in men and women, although men may develop colon cancer earlier than women. The risk of developing colon cancer increases with age.
- People with a family history of colorectal cancer are two to five times more likely to develop colorectal cancer.
- There may be subtle signs and symptoms when a person has colon cancer, including fatigue, weakness, weight loss, abdominal pain, and rectal bleeding.
- Most colon cancers develop from small growths in the lining of the colon and rectum called polyps. Certain types of polyps grow over time and develop into cancer. Detecting and removing these "precancerous" polyps can prevent colon cancer.
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Sample Questions
Ques. How common is colon cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. Colon cancer is more common than rectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 95,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year, compared to 39,000 cases of rectal cancer.
Ques. What are the signs and symptoms of colon cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. Colon cancer can develop when benign polyps in the colon grow and become cancerous. There may be no early signs or symptoms of benign polyps or colon cancer in its earliest stages. As cancer grows, symptoms may include abdominal pain or cramping, constipation or diarrhoea, blood in the stool, bloating or not feeling empty after a bowel movement, flattened or bandy stools, and/or pain in the rectum. Signs of advanced colorectal cancer may include unexplained weight loss, fatigue, anaemia, and loss of appetite.
Ques. Is it true that only older men get colon cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. The average age of a person diagnosed with colorectal cancer is 68. And more men get colorectal cancer than women. But women are also at risk. In fact, the rate of new cases in men is 47 per 100,000, while the rate in women is 36 per 100,000.
Ques. Can colon cancer be prevented? (2 marks)
Ans. Risk factors for colorectal cancer can be reduced through regular screenings and lifestyle changes. Genetics is an important factor for causing colon cancer. Colonoscopy should be taken from time to time. This procedure can help detect cancer in its early stages. Polyps can also be removed and biopsies can be taken during the exam, if necessary. Changing to a healthier lifestyle can also help lower the risk of colorectal cancer. Obesity, smoking, alcohol, diet, and lack of exercise have been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Ques. Is colorectal cancer the same as colon cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. Colorectal cancer is the term for cancer of the colon and/or rectum. The two cancers are grouped together because they share many common characteristics. Together, the colon and rectum make up the large intestine, a fragmented bowel about three feet long. Colon cancer develops to the last few inches of the colon, between the appendix and the rectum. Rectal cancer develops in the rectum, the last few centimetres of the colon that connect to the anus.
Ques. What is a polyp? (2 marks)
Ans. Polyps are mushroom-like growths that form when cells lining the colon grow, divide and reproduce in an unhealthy, disorderly way. Polyps can become cancerous over time, invading the colon wall and surrounding blood vessels, and spreading to other parts of the body.
Ques. What causes colorectal cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. The exact causes of colorectal cancer are unknown, but the disease appears to be caused by both inherited and lifestyle factors. Lifestyle factors - such as cigarette smoking, lack of physical exercise, and obesity - may increase the risk of developing the disease. Genetic factors may determine a person's susceptibility to the disease, whereas dietary and other lifestyle factors may determine which at-risk individuals actually go on to develop the disease. Most of the time no identifiable cause is found for the development of colorectal cancer in any given individual, and it is simply due to random genetic changes that have occurred in the cells lining the colon or rectum.
Ques. Who is at risk for colorectal cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. Men and women aged 50 or older are at almost equal risk of developing colorectal cancer. Those who have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps are at higher risk of developing the disease. Anyone who has a long-term personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn’s Disease) also is at higher risk.
Ques. How can you prevent colorectal cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. It is advisable to visit the doctor for yearly screenings if aged 45* or older. Be sure to maintain a diet low in animal fat and high in fruits, vegetables and fibre. Get regular exercise and avoid cigarette smoking. Keep alcohol consumption in moderation. Colon Cancer screening tests can identify and allow removal of pre-cancerous polyps and prevent the development of cancer.
Ques. Why is colorectal cancer also known as colon cancer? (2 marks)
Ans. Colorectal cancer is the term used to describe cancer of the colon and/or rectum. The two cancers are grouped together because they share many common characteristics. Together, the colon and rectum make up the large intestine, a question mark-shaped bowel four feet in length. Colon cancer develops in all but the last few inches of the large intestine, between the appendix and rectum. Rectal cancer develops in the rectum, the last few inches of the large intestine that attaches to the anus.
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