Five Things You Should Know About Colon Cancer
The colon
is a very important part of the body. A mature
body houses about four feet of this organ. The shape of it
is much like a tube. The colon serves the body in many
ways. To begin with, digesting solids and liquids that we
take in is a main function. It absorbs the liquid from this
substance, thus, producing feces. It subsequently helps our
bodies eliminate waste. Colon cancer is diagnosed when your
cells that are in the colon grow and function abnormally.
Five important
facts about colon cancer follow. At least
one out of approximately twenty adults will develop colon
cancer in the United States alone. It statistically occurs
in men with greater frequency than women. This form of
cancer kills many people. Now we will focus on five things
you should know about colon cancer.
1. Cancer
in the colon often becomes evident in most cases
before the age of forty. Medical professionals are in
agreement that this type of cancer can occur at any age. If
you think you have the symptoms of colon cancer, or if you
are in a high-risk group, you should contact a health care
professional to talk about what your options are.
2. You
should also be aware of the risk factors of colon
cancer, which can indicate if you are in a high-risk group.
The risk of colon cancer is increased if you:
- Have a family history of colon cancer
- Have
had previous ovarian, breast or uterine cancer if
you are a woman - Are using tobacco
- Are overweight or obese
- And taking some kinds of prescription drugs.
3. Colon cancer is usually accompanied by several
symptoms. These are the symptoms that you should know about:
- Bleeding.
The rectum may show some bleeding. There may
be bloody stools. - Different levels of pain may be felt in the abdomen.
- Many may experience vomiting and bouts of nausea.
- Colon cancer is linked to significant weight loss.
- After
using the restroom, many people feel as if they
are not actually done. - Your
bowel movements can change and look different in
many ways. They might look stringy and appear thinner.
4. There
is more than one way to determine if a person has
colon cancer. First, the rectum is examined and tests are
done on this area of the colon. Sigmoidoscopy, enema using
air and contrast, colonoscopy, as well as a CT scan are
some alternative means of evaluation. The location of
tumors, if present, are identified using these particular
tests.
5) Some
effective treatments are available for colon
cancer. Treatment options can include having a portion or
the whole colon removed. It is sometimes possible to remove
the abnormalities without having to totally remove the
colon. If an individual has surgery for colon cancer, they
must take care of themselves.
- Chemotherapy
is usually applied after colon cancer
surgery is carried out. This is particularly useful in
cases where the cancer has spread throughout the body. - Radiation
is an option for many people. Radiation serves
two different purposes. It is used to shrink growths inside
the body, and to prevent colon cancer from returning after
surgery. - Having
a colostomy has been a viable option for numerous
people. One end of this tube is attached to the colon,
whilst the other end is an opening in the abdomen. To catch
feces and other waste a bag is put at that opening.
However, this is only done when the case is severe.
There are
many factors that have to be understood when
educating yourself about colon cancer. This article gives
you information about the five most important things to
know about colon cancer. Seek medical advice immediately if
you are experiencing the symptoms associated with this type
of cancer. It is very important that you act quickly; it
could very well save your life.