Cancers that affect the colon or the rectum are known as Colon cancers. If you or someone you know might be predisposed to this kind of cancer, then it can be helpful to learn as much about this condition as possible. An overview of Colon cancer can serve to inform you not only of which signs and symptoms to watch out for, but also of what stages are generally involved within the disease.
Some of the risk factors associated with Colon cancer generally include dietary choices, a family history of rectal or colon cancer, alcohol consumption, inflammatory bowel disease, and smoking.
An Overview of Colon Cancer: Signs and Symptoms
Though some Colon cancers may be present without any obvious symptoms or signs, many are associated with specific behaviors or obvious signs. It is very important to have regular screenings to detect the problem early. One of the earliest signs of Colon cancer may be bleeding. However, because tumors only bleed very small amounts, evidence of blood in the stool is generally only found during chemical testing. Other symptoms might include:
– Changes in bowel habits. If you suddenly begin to suffer from diarrhea or constipation, this might be a sign that you are experiencing the early symptoms of Colon cancer.
– Blood in the stool, which is the most noticeable sign of Colon cancer. However, it is worth noting that blood in the stool does not always indicate cancer. Bleeding can sometimes be caused by a range of other issues including anal fissures, hemorrhoids, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. What's more, some foods and iron can give stool a red or black appearance, which might seem to indicate the presence of blood when there actually isn't any.
– Unexplained anemia – If you find that you have signs of anemia, such as feeling tired or sluggish, struggling with shortness of breath, or more, then you might have a shortage of red blood cells in your body. The signs of anemia could indicate that you are suffering with the early stages of Colon cancer.
– Bloating or pain in the abdomen
– Vomiting
– Unexplained loss of weight
The Stages of Colon Cancer:
In an overview of Colon cancer, it helps to discuss the stages involved with this illness. Colon cancer is frequently described in clinical settings by the stages at which it can be discovered. The various stages of this cancer can be determined by the depth at which the cancer has moved throughout the wall of the intestine, and how involved the lymph nodes currently are.
Stage 0 – For cancers in stage 0, the disease can be located only within the lining of the rectum or colon.
Stage 1 – For cancers in stage 1, the cancer has grown into the wall of the intestine, but have not spread throughout the muscular coat.
Stage 2: At stage 2, Colon cancer will have moved into the muscular layers in the large intestine, and may have even spread into nearby tissue
Stage 3: At stage 3, the Colon disease will have spread into the lymph nodes in the area.
Stage 4: Patients with stage 4 Colon cancer are at the most advanced stage, where the disease has spread into distant organs including ovaries, lungs, and even the liver.