Colon cancer is malignant tumor in the colon. The most common symptom of colon cancer is bloody bowel movements. This disease is often begins frombenign tumor called polyps.
Until now, the cause of colon cancer is not clearly known. However, there are several things that are thought to increase a person's risk of developing colon cancer, including not liking to eat fiber, rarely exercising, and smoking.
Colon cancer often causes no symptoms at first. However, if you frequently experience symptoms of indigestion, such as diarrhea or constipation, and have a family member with colon cancer, it is advisable to consult a doctor. The earlier detected, the chances of colon cancer to be cured will also be greater.
Causes of Colon Cancer
Colon cancer is caused by changes or mutations in genes in the colon tissue. However, the cause of this gene mutation is not known with certainty.
Although the cause is unknown, there are several lifestyles that are thought to increase a person's risk of developing colon cancer, including:
- Low fiber diet
- Eating too much red meat and fat
- Smoke
- Consuming alcoholic beverages
- Rarely exercise
In addition, there are several conditions or diseases that also make a person suffer from colon cancer, namely:
- Have a parent or sibling who had colon cancer.
- Suffering from intestinal polyps.
- Being overweight or obese.
- Suffering from diabetes.
- Suffering from inflammatory bowel disease.
- Have had radiotherapy to the abdomen.
- Suffering from a genetic disorder called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or Lynch syndrome.
- Over 50 years old.
Colon Cancer Symptoms
Symptoms of colon cancer at an early stage are sometimes not felt, or even do not appear at all. However, there are some symptoms that can appear in early-stage colon cancer, namely:
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Bloated
- Cramps or stomach ache
- Changes in stool shape and color
- bloody CHAPTER
If it has entered an advanced stage, colon cancer sufferers may experience symptoms such as:
- Fatigue
- Often feel the CHAPTER is not complete
- Changes in stool form that last more than a month
- Drastic weight loss
If colon cancer has spread to other parts of the body, symptoms may include:
- Jaundice (jaundice)
- Blurred vision
- Swelling of the arms and legs
- Headache
- Fracture
- Hard to breathe
When to go to the doctor
As previously stated, colon cancer sufferers may not experience any symptoms at all at first. You are advised to consult a doctor if you feel complaints that may be symptoms of colon cancer, such as:
- Have recurrent diarrhea or constipation.
- Have a change in the shape and color of the stool.
- Often feel the CHAPTER is not complete.
- bloody stool.
It is also highly recommended to see a doctor if you have a family who suffers from colon cancer.
Colon Cancer Diagnosis
To find out if a patient has colon cancer, the doctor will ask the patient's symptoms. The doctor will also ask if the patient has a disease that can increase the risk of developing colon cancer, as well as trace the patient's family medical history.
After that, the doctor will perform a physical examination and additional examinations, such as:
endoscope
Endoscopy is performed by a gastroenterologist to view the condition of the large intestine, using a special instrument in the form of a flexible tube with a camera at the end, which is inserted through the anus. Examination with this tool is called a colonoscopy.
In addition to the flexible tube, there is also an endoscope with a camera capsule that the patient has to swallow, to view the entire digestive tract.
Bowel biopsy
A biopsy is an examination by taking a sample of intestinal tissue to be examined under a microscope, to see whether there are malignant (cancer) cells.
A biopsy may be done during a colonoscopy, or during surgery on the abdomen to remove part of the large intestine.
To find out how far the cancer has spread, as well as to assess the function of other organs and the success of treatment, the doctor will perform examinations:
- X-rayX-rays are done to see the condition of the large intestine. To make the results clearer, the patient will be asked to drink a special dye solution (contrast) first.
- CT scanCT scan performed to see the condition of the large intestine and surrounding tissue in more detail.
- blood testBlood tests can provide information about the function of various organs before the oncologist begins treatment, such as blood cell counts, liver function, and kidney function. Doctors can also perform an examination called a CEA to assess the response to treatment.
Doctors recommend people who are at high risk of colon cancer to undergo colon cancer screening regularly. The goal is that if cancer appears, it can be treated immediately.
Colon cancer screening
Colon cancer screening is recommended for men and women 45 years of age and older. Some of the recommended checks are:
- Stool examination, every 1 year.
- Colonoscopy, every 10 years.
- CT scan of the abdomen, every 5 years.
These tests can detect the presence of blood in the stool, or polyps in the intestines that can develop into colon cancer. Discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of each examination.
Colon Cancer Stage
Based on the severity, colon cancer is divided into several stages, namely:
- Stage 1At this stage, the cancer grows only in the large intestine.
- Stage 2At this stage, the cancer has penetrated the colon wall.
- Stage 3At this stage, the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes located adjacent to the large intestine.
- Stage 4This stage is the most severe stage of colon cancer, where the cancer has spread far and invaded other organs of the body, such as the lungs or liver.
Colon cancer stage will be determined after the doctor conducts an examination of the patient. This staging helps doctors to plan appropriate treatment.
Colon Cancer Treatment
Colon cancer treatment is carried out according to the stage or severity of the cancer. Several types of treatment to treat colon cancer are:
Operation
Surgery is performed to remove cancerous tissue in the colon. The type of surgery performed depends on the severity and spread of the cancer.
In surgery, the cancerous part of the colon along with a small amount of healthy tissue around it is cut and removed. After that, the base of the large intestine will be connected to the rest of the large intestine leading to the anus, or directly connected to an artificial hole in the abdominal wall as a place for feces to come out. This hole is called a stoma, and is created through a colostomy operation.
In addition to cutting the large intestine, surgery can also be performed to remove lymph nodes that have been undermined by cancer.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a way to kill cancer cells through the administration of drugs in several cycles regulated by the oncologist. Some examples of colon cancer drugs are: oxaliplatin and irinotecan.
Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy is done to kill cancer cells by using radiation. These rays can be emitted from a device outside the body (external radiotherapy) or from a device placed near the cancer site (internal radiotherapy).
Targeted drug therapy
In contrast to chemotherapy which attacks cancer cells as well as healthy cells, this drug works by specifically killing cancer cells. Targeted drug therapy can be given alone or in combination with other treatment methods. Some of the drugs used include:
- Regorafenib
- Cetuximab
- Bevacizumab
- Ramucirumab
In general, patients with colon cancer diagnosed at an early stage have a higher cure rate than patients diagnosed at a late stage.
Patients who have been declared cured of colon cancer still have the risk of suffering from cancer again. To ensure that colon cancer does not reappear, the doctor will schedule regular patient check-ups.
Colon Cancer Prevention
Colon cancer can be prevented by adopting a healthy lifestyle. Ways that can be done to reduce the risk of getting this disease are:
- Exercise regularly.
- Eat foods and drinks that contain fiber.
- Maintain ideal body weight.
- Quit smoking.
- Reduce or avoid alcoholic beverages.
In addition, so that colon cancer can be detected as early as possible, screening through screening also needs to be done. This examination method is highly recommended, especially for people who have a family history of colon cancer, as well as people aged 50 years and over.