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Colon cancer starts when cells in the large intestine begin growing out of control. The colon is the first and longest section of the large intestine. It plays an important role in digestion by helping the body absorb water and store waste before it leaves the body.
This cancer usually begins as tiny growths called polyps inside the colon. These polyps often do not cause symptoms and are not dangerous at first. But over time, some polyps can turn into cancer.
Colon cancer affects older adults more often, but people of any age can get it. That is why regular screening is so important. If doctors find polyps early and remove them, it can stop cancer from forming.
Colon cancer is sometimes grouped with rectal cancer and called colorectal cancer. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine, just before waste leaves the body.
Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Most people with colon cancer do not feel anything unusual at first. As the cancer grows, you may notice changes in how your body works.
Common symptoms include:
- Diarrhea or constipation that doesn’t go away
- Blood in your stool or bleeding from the rectum
- Belly pain, cramps, or gas that keeps coming back
- Feeling like your bowels never fully empty
- Feeling weak or tired more than usual
- Losing weight without trying
*If you notice any of these changes, talk to your doctor. Catching colon cancer early can make a big difference.
What Causes Colon Cancer?
Doctors don’t know exactly what causes every case of colon cancer. But they do know it starts when cells in the colon get damaged. Each cell has DNA that gives instructions on how to grow, divide and die. When that DNA gets changed, the cells may grow too fast or not die when they should. These bad cells can pile up and form a lump called a tumor.
If cancer cells break away, they can spread to other parts of the body. This is called metastatic cancer. Colon cancer usually begins in the lining of the colon and can grow deeper over time.
Who Has a Higher Risk?
Some people are more likely to get colon cancer than others. Risk factors include:
- Being older than 50: Although younger people can get it, most cases happen to people over 50.
- Family history: If someone in your family had colon or rectal cancer, your risk is higher.
- Past polyps or cancer: If you’ve had colon polyps or colon cancer before, you’re more likely to get it again.
- Bowel diseases: Conditions like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease can raise your risk.
- Inherited conditions: Some people are born with DNA changes that make cancer more likely, like Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis.
- Unhealthy diet: Eating a lot of red meat or processed foods and not enough fiber may increase risk.
- Lack of activity: Not exercising regularly can raise your risk.
- Being overweight: Obesity is linked to higher colon cancer risk and worse outcomes.
- Smoking and alcohol: Both smoking and drinking too much alcohol can raise cancer risk.
- Radiation: If you have had radiation treatments in your belly area before, you might be more at risk.
How to Lower Your Risk
You can make everyday choices to lower your chances of getting colon cancer.
Try these healthy habits:
- Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. These foods are full of nutrients and fiber.
- Exercise often. Aim for 30 minutes most days of the week.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Losing extra weight can help lower your risk.
- Limit alcohol. If you drink, keep it to one drink a day for women and two for men.
- Do not smoke. Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting.
Some people with a high risk may also benefit from preventive medicine. For example, taking aspirin regularly might help prevent polyps or cancer, but it can also cause side effects. Only use this option if your doctor thinks it’s safe for you.
Screening: Catching Cancer Early
Screening helps doctors find colon cancer or polyps before they cause problems. People at average risk should start screening around the age of 45. If you have a higher risk, you might need to start sooner.
Common screening tests include:
- A doctor looks inside the colon with a small camera. They can remove polyps during the test.
- Stool tests. These tests look for blood or abnormal DNA in your stool.
*Talk with your doctor about which screening test is right for you.
How Doctors Diagnose Colon Cancer
If you have symptoms or your screening test shows something unusual, your doctor may do more tests.
Tests to check for colon cancer include:
- Colonoscopy: This is the most common test. Doctors use a flexible tube to look inside your colon and remove tissue if needed.
- Biopsy: A small piece of tissue is taken and sent to the lab. This test tells whether the cells are cancer and how fast they might grow.
- Blood tests: These do not find cancer directly, but they can give clues. Low red blood cells may mean bleeding. Another blood test can check for a protein called CEA, which sometimes rises in people with colon cancer.
Understanding Cancer Stages
Once cancer is found, doctors figure out how far it has spread. This is called staging.
Stages help guide treatment. The stages range from 0 to 4:
- Stage 0: Cancer is only in the inner lining of the colon.
- Stage 1-3: Cancer has spread deeper or to nearby lymph nodes.
- Stage 4: Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver or lungs.
Doctors may use CT scans, MRI’s or other imaging to help with staging.
How Is Colon Cancer Treated?
Your treatment plan depends on the cancer’s stage, size and location, as well as your overall health.
Here are the main treatment options:
- Surgery
Surgery is often the first step. It may involve:
- Polypectomy: If the cancer is small and inside a polyp, removing the polyp might be enough.
- Endoscopic mucosal resection: This removes larger polyps and nearby lining during a colonoscopy.
- Laparoscopic surgery: Surgeons use small tools and cameras to remove cancer through tiny cuts.
- Partial colectomy: This removes the part of the colon with cancer, along with nearby tissue.
- Ostomy: If the colon can not be reconnected, a new opening is made in the belly to collect waste.
- Lymph node removal: Doctors also check nearby lymph nodes for cancer.
*Sometimes surgery is done just to ease pain or other problems, especially if cancer has spread.
- Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells.
It might be given:
- After surgery to kill any leftover cancer cells
- Before surgery to shrink the tumor
- For advanced cancer to ease symptoms and slow the cancer
*Side effects may include nausea, tiredness or hair loss.
- Radiation Therapy
Radiation uses high-energy beams to destroy cancer.
It may be used:
- Before surgery to shrink tumors
- When surgery isn’t an option
- To ease pain from advanced cancer
*Sometimes it is combined with chemotherapy.
- Targeted Therapy
This treatment goes after specific parts of cancer cells. It can block the growth and spread of cancer. Targeted therapy is often used with chemotherapy for people with advanced colon cancer. It usually causes fewer side effects than chemo.
- Immunotherapy
Immunotherapy helps your body’s own immune system find and kill cancer cells. It is usually used for advanced colon cancer when other treatments have not worked well. It may cause side effects like skin changes or tiredness, but it works differently from chemo or radiation.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is special medical care that helps you feel better while you fight a serious illness. It helps manage symptoms like pain, nausea or stress. You can get palliative care along with other treatments. It does not mean giving up. It means having support so you can live more comfortably.
What You Can Do Next
Hearing you might have colon cancer is scary. You might feel nervous, sad or unsure. That’s normal. Talk with your doctor about your concerns. You can also ask for a second opinion. Learn as much as you can and take your time with big decisions. You do not have to face this alone. There are people and resources ready to help.
Get Expert Care for Colon Cancer or Digestive Concerns
If you think you may have colon cancer or symptoms like bowel changes, blood in stool or belly pain, I am here to help. As a hematologist and oncologist, I specialize in diagnosing and treating blood disorders and cancer.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Sandeep Singh: Call: 601-518-7054. Referral Email: ashli.palmer@scrmc.com. For expert care, ask to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sandeep Singh when calling or sending a referral to ensure direct, specialized treatment. Your health is important. Let’s work together to manage it.
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