Colon Cancer

What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer forms inside the large intestine, which is roughly five and a half feet long. The first five feet of the large intestine is called the colon. The rectum makes up the last six inches of the large intestine. Cancers found in the two organs are often grouped together as colorectal cancer.

Colon cancer often develops slowly over several years. It typically starts as a small abnormal growth on the inner lining of the colon. This is called a polyp. Some polyps can eventually grow into cancer.

Colon cancer is often contained within the colon. But if left untreated, it can spread to other organs, most often the liver and lungs.

A small percentage of colon cancer is due to genetic causes that may be passed from parents to children.

What are the signs and symptoms of colon cancer?

However, there are some signs that you should not ignore, such as:

• rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
• changes in your bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrow stools that last more than a few days
• unexplained abdominal pain or cramping that lasts more than a few days
• a persistent urge for a bowel movement that doesn’t go away after you have one
• unexplained weakness and fatigue
• unintended weight loss
• a diagnosis of anemia

What are the treatments for colon cancer?
There are several ways to treat colon cancer depending on the stage and location of the disease. These methods are often used in combination, including:

• Surgery to remove the cancer. Colon cancer is treated with a segmental colectomy, which removes part of the colon. This is usually done using a minimally invasive procedure. For most people, the surgeon joins the two remaining ends to reconstruct the colon.
• Chemotherapy with drugs that shrink or kill colon cancer cells. This can be done before, during, or after surgery, or for some people, instead of surgery.
• Radiation using high-energy rays or particles to shrink or destroy cancer cells. This is more often used in advanced colon cancer that has spread and in rectal cancer.