Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is the most common type of cancer. The colon is a part of the large intestine, in the first six feet of it. Colon cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the tissue walls of the colon, which are known as polyps. Polyps can range in size, from the very small, to the extremely large. And, as the polyp grows in size, the chance of it becoming cancerous increases. Keep in mind, however, that even though one of four people gets polyps, most never turn out to be cancerous.
To help spot colon cancer, it’s beneficial to know the symptoms of colon cancer. The most common symptoms of this type of cancer are: rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss, constipation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. In extreme cases of colon cancer, if the polyps become large enough to almost fully block up the colon, the resulting symptoms include extreme abdominal pain and severe constipation. To help decrease the risk of colon cancer, make sure to have routine check ups at your doctor’s. You may even want to have these doctor visits more frequently, if you, or someone you love, have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease, as these people are at a greater risk for colon cancer. Other risk-factors include: a high consumption of red meat, a fiber related diet, obesity, and smoking.
Rectal colon cancer is where malignant cells are found in the
lining of the rectum: the last ten inches of the large colon. Here,
the malignant cells can invade other surrounding tissue or spread
throughout the body. Though it sounds very fatal problem, rectal
cancer is highly treatable and is cured in about 45% of all rectal
colon cancer patients. Rectal cancer, is more common in men, than
women – as well as being more plentiful in industrialized
areas, people with diets high in red meat, and those who drink alcohol.
The symptoms of rectal cancer are easily recognizable, and are often
felt before the patient is ever diagnosed with colon cancer. Some
of the symptoms are: loss of blood in bowel movements, extreme changes
in bowl movements, such as unexplained constipation, or with severe
tumors, severe buttocks pain.