Colon Rectal Cancer

Cancer occurs when cells that are dividing go about doing that too often, producing more cells than are necessary in the area, and these are named according to the area it occurs in. The colon, better known as the large intestine, is a part of the body that assists in digestion.  It is the final stage of the digestive tract. Colon cancer is a malignancy that occurs in the inner lining of the colon or the rectum, the end part of the colon. Colon rectal cancer has beome an everyday disease in today’s world.

All cells in a human body undergo the process of life and death. This growth is considered cancerous when it occurs against the natural rhythm and cannot be controlled by the immune system. This uncontrolled growth then produces a collection of cells known as a tumor. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. If the tumor is benign it will not spread to other parts of your body. Malignant tumors on the other hand keep dividing uncontrollably and can invade other parts of the body and destroy the healthy cells in the body.

Like all other cancers there are known risk factors that increase a person’s chance of being affected by colon cancer. Those over the age of 40 are said to be at a higher risk of developing colon cancer, and colon cancer has rarely been diagnosed in those under forty. Having a family history of colon cancer can also increase the chances of developing the disease. Other factors like having benign tumors, a bad diet and other ailments that can pose risks are also said to be risk factors.

There are many symptoms that are linked with the presence of colon cancer but having one or more of them does not necessarily mean colon cancer is present. Symptoms like bleeding from the rectum should never be ignored, but they do not mean you have colon cancer. Changes in bowel habits, pain in the abdomen or rectum and a feeling that bowel movement cannot be completed are also symptoms. Again having these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer but they should be taken seriously and a doctor has to be consulted to find out what may be causing these irregularities.

Advances in science and the field of medicine mean that cure rates for this type of cancer are quite high. Treatments for colon cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and usually a combination of these therapies is given to a patient to increase the efficiency of treatment.