Colorectal cancer is a cancer of the colon or rectum, located at the digestive tract's lower end.Early cases can begin as non-cancerous polyps. These often have no symptoms but can be detected by screening Colonoscopy. For this reason, doctors recommend screenings for those at high risk or over the age of 50.
Polyps were found in 2.3% patients in the age group below 30 years and 5.8% in the 30-40 years group. Above the age of 40, there was a significant increase in the prevalence of polyps: 23.8% in 40-50 age group, 32.6% on 50-60 and 35.5% in 60 and above.
Polyps and colorectal cancers are uncommon before age 40. Ninety percent of cases occur after age 50, with males somewhat more likely to develop polyps than females; therefore, colon cancer screening is usually recommended starting at age 50 for both sexes.
Most people with colon polyps are aged 50 or older. having inflammatory intestinal conditions, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon. Although the polyps themselves are not a significant threat, having ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease of the colon increases your overall risk of colon cancer.
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.Colon cancer typically affects older adults, though it can happen at any age. It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called" polyps" that form on the inside of the colon. Over time some of these polyps can become colon cancers.
Polyps may be small and produce few, if any, symptoms. For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer by identifying and removing polyps before they turn into cancer.
If colon cancer develops, many treatments are available to help control it, including surgery, radiation therapy and drug treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Colon cancer is sometimes called colorectal cancer, which is a term that combines colon cancer and rectal cancer, which begins in the rectum.
Colorectal cancer symptoms depend on the size and location of the cancer. Some commonly experienced symptoms include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool and abdominal discomfort.The pain of bowel cancer is felt in abdomen.
Intermittent, and occasionally severe, abdominal pain this is always brought on by eating. unintentional weight loss with persistent abdominal pain. constant swelling of the tummy with abdominal pain. being sick with constant abdominal swelling.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:
•A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool.Change in stool frequency. Change in stool appearance.
•Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool.When blood is in your stool, it might look like bright red streaks or dark purplish clots.
•Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
•A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
•Weakness or fatigue
•Unexplained /Unintentional weight loss.
•Rectal pain.
•Abdominal pain.
•Anemia.
Many people with colon cancer experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When symptoms appear, they'll likely vary, depending on the cancer's size and location in the large intestine.
Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of the patients.
The cause of colorectal cancer:
The exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, but certain risk factors are strongly linked to the disease, including diet, tobacco smoking and heavy alcohol use. Also, people with certain hereditary cancer syndromes or a family history of colorectal cancer have a high risk of developing the disease.
Colon cancer spreads slowly:
Once cancer has developed in the colon, its progression will vary according to the cellular makeup of the tumor and other factors, such as the age and overall health of the patient. The general progression of colon cancer tends to be slow, but it is still a serious disease that warrants prompt medical attention.
Colorectal cancer is most common among people aged 50 and older but can occur in patients as young as teenagers. Over 75% of colon and rectal cancers happen to people with no known risk factors, which is why regular screening is so important.
Colorectal cancer tends to spread to the liver and lungs two years after initial cancer surgery.
Treatment depends on stage.
Colorectal cancer treatment depends on the size, location and how far the cancer has spread. Common treatments include surgery to remove the cancer, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Surgery includes Lymph node dissection and Colectomy.
The exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, but certain risk factors are strongly linked to the disease, including diet, tobacco smoking and heavy alcohol use. Also, people with certain hereditary cancer syndromes or a family history of colorectal cancer have a high risk of developing the disease.
Colorectal cancer is most common among people aged 50 and older but can occur in patients as young as teenagers. Over 75% of colon and rectal cancers happen to people with no known risk factors, which is why regular screening is so important.
The survival rate in colon in cancer:
If the cancer is diagnosed at a localized stage, the survival rate is 91%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 72%. If colon cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 14%.
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is: about 1 in 23 (4.3%) for men and 1 in 25 (4.0%) for women.
Colon cancer common in the US :
There's mounting evidence linking an unhealthy diet in particular, one high in processed meat and fat, and low in fruits and vegetables to early-onset colorectal cancer. Likewise, several studies have found that being overweight or obese may raise someone's chance of getting early-onset colorectal cancer.
One in five colorectal cancer patients are between 20 and 54 years old. 30% of CRC diagnoses are under age 55. The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age; 90% of cases are diagnosed in individuals 50 years of age and older.Person being older are at high risk for colon cancer.Your risk of colorectal cancer goes up as you age. Younger adults can get it, but it's much more common after age 50. Colorectal cancer is rising among people who are younger than age 50 and the reason for this remains unclear.
As often as 40% of the time, a precancerous polyp — frequently a type called an adenoma is found during a screening colonoscopy. Colon cancer is found during only in about 40 out of 10,000 screening colonoscopies, Dr. Sand said.
Hungry, Slovakia , Norway, Netherlands and Denmark are the first five countries with higher incidence of colorectal cancer according to the recent data.
Colon cancer, or cancer that begins in the lower part of the digestive tract, usually forms from a collection of benign (noncancerous) cells called an adenomatous polyp. Most of these polyps will not become malignant (cancerous), but some can slowly turn into cancer over the course of about 10-15 years.
The major causes of colon cancer are as follows,:
•A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
•Lack of regular physical activity.
•A diet low in fruit and vegetables.
•A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats.
•Overweight and obesity.
•Alcohol consumption.
•Tobacco use.
Liver and lungs are the first places where metastatic colon cancer spreads.
While colon cancer can travel throughout the body, there
are specific areas where it is more likely to spread. The most common include the liver and lungs, as well as the brain, distant lymph nodes and peritoneum ,membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
The foods causing polyps in the colon:
Fatty foods, such as fried foods. red meat, such as beef and pork. processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs, and lunch meats. Also, eat less red meat (beef, pork, or lamb) and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats), which have been linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Type of diet that prevents colon cancer or the food that reduces the risk of colorectal cancer:
Those who ate a vegetarian diet had a 22% lower risk of colorectal cancer than those who weren't vegetarians. Among those who ate a vegetarian diet that included fish, the reduction in risk was even greater — 43%.
Vegetarians had a 19% lower risk for colon cancer and a 29% lower risk for rectal cancer when compared with meat eaters.
A plant-based diet reduces the risk of colon cancer:
If you're hoping to reduce your risk of colon cancer, the second-leading cause of cancer deaths in America, you might wonder if a plant-based diet can help. The answer is a resounding yes! Plant-based diets significantly lower your chances of developing many types of cancer, including colon cancer.
UK researchers found that vegetarians had a lower overall cancer rate than meat eaters.
Diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colon or rectal cancer.
In fact, a research team from Vanderbilt University found out that women who eat three servings of fish per week reduced their risk of developing colon polyps at around 33 percent. Your best picks would be baked or smoked salmon, tuna and sardines as they are also rich in vitamin D and calcium.
The study in Cancer Causes & Control found that eating large amounts of fish (including tuna) might be directly correlated with an increased risk of malignant melanoma.
Because of their impressive fiber content, avocados make a great addition to any colon-healthy diet. Research has shown that a low-fat, high-fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains is linked with a decreased risk of colon cancer.
Other high-fiber fruits like pears, apples and bananas (a good source of magnesium) also promote good digestive and colon health and reduce the risk of colon cancer.
The fruits that should be avoided by cancer patients avoid:
You may also want to avoid certain fruits based on your symptoms. For example, citrus fruits may irritate mouth sores and worsen the feeling of dry mouth. Lastly, whole fruits like apples, apricots, and pears are hard for some people with cancer to eat due to mouth sores, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, or nausea.
Cancer patient can one or two cups of coffee a day .
Researchers found that participants who drank two to three cups of coffee per day had a reduced hazard for death and for cancer progression compared to those who didn't drink coffee. Hazard is a measure of risk. Those who consumed more than four cups per day had an even greater benefit.
Some studies suggest that people may reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer by increasing physical activity, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco.
Colorectal cancer in India:
Colorectal cancer is a common cancer worldwide with a majority of cases occurring in the developed countries. India has a low prevalence of Colorectal cancer ((CRC) estimated five-year prevalence is 87 per 100,000 population.
Colorectal cancer stands to be the third-most common cancer among men, worldwide and in India, colon cancer cases are among top 5 most frequent cases reported.
(Times of India.18-Mar-2021)
The Three Most Common Cancers In India are
(1) Breast Cancer. This is the most common form of cancer in India.
(2)Cervical Cancer.
(3)Oral Cancer.
The risk for colon cancer in Indians:
In conclusion, the incidence of large and small bowel adenomas and cancers is low in Indians. Increase in the incidence of large bowel cancers in immigrants and urban Indians compared to rural populations supports a role for environmental risk factors including diet.
The low incidence of large bowel cancers in Indians can be attributed to high intake of starch and the presence of natural antioxidants such as curcumin in Indian cooking.
Diagnosis of colorectal cancer:
A CT scan uses x-rays to make detailed cross sectional images of your body. This test can help tell if colorectal cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes or to your liver, lungs, or other organs.
No blood test can tell you if you have colon cancer. But your doctor may test your blood for clues about your overall health, such as kidney and liver function tests. Your doctor may also test your blood for a chemical sometimes produced by colon cancers (carcino- embryonic antigen, or CEA).
Nearly 18,000 people under the age of 50 will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year in the United States, said Rebecca Siegel, M.P.H., of the American Cancer Society. But the disease is still relatively rare, affecting far less than 1% of younger adults.
New blood test for detecting colon cancer:
A blood test for an altered gene called SEPT9 is FDA approved to be used to screen adults 50 years or older at average risk for colorectal cancer who have been offered and have a history of not completing colorectal cancer screening.
Colonoscopy:
Colonoscopy is one of the most sensitive tests currently available for colon cancer screening. The doctor can view your entire colon and rectum. Abnormal tissue, such as polyps, and tissue samples (biopsies) can be removed through the scope during the examination.
Colonoscopies aren't usually painful because most patients receive a sedative before the procedure starts. The sedative makes you so sleepy that you usually don't feel or remember anything of the procedure.
A colonoscopy is performed to detect: Colorectal cancer, Precancerous tumors or polyps, Inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease.
It is a minimally invasive procedure. Colonoscopy is done with the help of a colonoscope, which is a flexible, long tube with a tiny video camera placed at the tip of the colonoscope. The colonoscope is inserted into the patient's rectum and the doctor is able to see the in the colon and rectum very clearly.The procedure usually takes about 20-45 minutes. The amount of time depends on how well your at-home preparation worked, the length of your colon, and how many polyps are found and removed.
Colon cancer is not completely preventable:
There's no sure way to prevent colorectal cancer. But there are things you can do that might help lower your risk, such as changing the risk factors that you can control.
Information compiled by: Dr Bhairavsinh Raol
