What are the symptoms of colon cancer?

Colon cancer is a cancer that develops in the colon and rectum. The process of development of anal cancer usually begins in the transitional zone between the epithelium of the anal canal and the rectal gland. According to research conducted by the World Cancer Research Fund, the incidence of colorectal cancer cases is 10.6% on a global scale.

What are the causes of colon cancer?

Factors that increase risk include smoking, diet, age, and genetics. Approximately 90% of cancer cases are sporadic, and 5-10% are genetic. People suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Lesniewski-Crohn's disease, are a group of people which is at high risk. In these cases, the lining of the colon and rectum becomes dysplasia, which can develop into cancer. The risk is increased for people, especially men, who struggle with metabolic diseases (such as diabetes). Increased incidence of colorectal cancer is also noted in the case of people with a less active lifestyle.

Colorectal cancer – at what age is the risk increased?

Colorectal cancer can be diagnosed in patients of any age, but the risk increases with age. The vast majority of cases concern people over 50 years of age. Among people with this type of cancer, about 90% of them are 50 or older. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, doctors are seeing an increase in the incidence of the disease among people below this age limit. Unfortunately, the reasons for this are still unknown.

How do you recognize colorectal cancer?

Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

• Changes in the frequency of bowel movements;
• Diarrhea, constipation or a change in the consistency of the stools;
• The appearance of blood in the stool;
• Rectal bleeding;
• Persistent abdominal discomfort (i.e. cramps, gas, pain);
• Impression of incomplete emptying;
• Fatigue;
• Weight loss.

In many cases, in the initial stages, cancer is asymptomatic. Once the symptoms occur, they are usually differentiated, and they depend on the stage of the cancer, its size and location. If you notice that any of these symptoms persist for a longer time, or if you are simply concerned, you should consider seeing a doctor.

How to treat colon cancer?

Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the most common treatments to fight colon cancer. The choice of the appropriate therapy will depend on issues such as the stage of the cancer or the overall health of the patient. When the cancer is in its early stage and small, minimally invasive surgery such as removal of polyps during a colonoscopy is most often performed. When cancer does develop, it may be necessary to undergo a partial colectomy, which involves removing a portion of the large intestine that contains the cancerous cells. During this operation, there is a risk that the remaining sections will not be possible to connect, then it will be necessary to introduce a stoma that allows emptying the contents of the intestines into a special bag. Usually, both before and after surgery, chemotherapy is also given to reduce the size or stop the growth of the cancer.

How to prevent development of colon cancer?

Prevention include leading a healthy lifestyle – giving up cigarettes, reducing alcohol consumption, maintaining physical activity and introducing a balanced diet rich in fiber. It is also recommended that people in the age group over 50 should have regular check-ups. People at higher risk should consider undergoing screening earlier.