Colon & Rectal Cancers

The colon and rectum form the large bowel. The colon is the upper 5 to 6 feet. The rectum is the last 6 to 8 inches.

When abnormal cells grow in the colon or rectum, a cancerous tumor may form. These tumors grow slowly. They may get big and block the bowel.

Signs & Symptoms

Colon and rectal cancers can occur without clear symptoms. For this reason, screening is important. When symptoms occur, they include:

• A change in bowel habits that lasts more than a few days, including diarrhea or constipation
• Frequent gas pains, cramps, bloating, or feelings of fullness in the abdomen
• Red or dark blood in or on the stool or rectal bleeding. Pencil thin stools.
• Fatigue and/or iron deficiency anemia in men and older women
• A feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Weight loss for no known reason

Causes, Risk Factors & Care

Risk factors:

• Polyps (benign growths that can become cancerous over time). Most colon and rectal cancers develop from polyps.
• Family history of colon or rectal cancer. Unless it is treated, an inherited condition called Familial Polyposis puts a person at a very high risk.
• Having ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Aging. Colon and rectal cancers occur most often in people over age 50.
• Smoking. Heavy alcohol use.
• Eating a diet high in red meats and processed meats
• Lack of exercise and/or being overweight or obese

Care:

Finding and treating the cancer early is vital. Treatment includes:

• Surgery, including cryosurgery: During this procedure, radio waves travel through electrodes to heat and destroy abnormal cells.
• Chemotherapy: This uses medicines to destroy cancer cells.