Colon (large intestine) and rectal (after the large intestine) cancers are the second most common cancers in the United States. While 140,000 new cases are encountered annually, an average of 60,000 people die annually from colon and rectum cancers. Colon and rectum cancers that are caught at an early stage can be treated with high success.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Although colon and rectal cancers can develop at any age, they are mostly seen over the age of 40. The risk of colon and rectal cancer doubles every ten years. Having relatives with a diagnosis of colon and rectum cancer or polyp of the colon and rectum in the family, apart from age, increases the risk of the disease. Known ulcerative colitis, or the presence of treated colon and rectal polyps, and cancer in other organs such as breast and uterus also increase the risk of colon and rectal cancers.
HOW DOES THE DISEASE BEGIN?
Colon and rectal cancers begin as small, benign polyps. Polyp, which tends to become cancerous with some genetic and environmental factors, can become cancer by growing and occupying the intestinal wall. Removal of these benign polyps by colonoscopy prevents the occurrence of the disease.
WHAT ARE THE FINDINGS?
The most common findings are bloody stools and changes in bowel habits. In particular, constipation or changes in the shape of a circle require careful examination, as they may also be due to other diseases. Chronic abdominal pain and weight loss are usually accompanying findings in colon and rectum cancers.
Unfortunately, these findings may not be seen in many early cancers or polyps. Routine screening programs over the age of 50 are of vital importance in the early detection of asymptomatic disease.
Rectal touch, which means examination of the anal canal and distal rectum with fingers, occult blood test in stool, rectosigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy and radiological examinations are the examinations used for screening purposes. If your first-degree relatives have a history of colon and rectal cancer, you should start the screening program from the age of 40.
HOW ARE COLON AND RECTUM CANCERS TREATED?
The main treatment for colon and rectal cancers is surgery. With the applied surgery, the disease can be cleared by removing the tumorous tissues from the body. Preoperative radiotherapy (radiation therapy) and chemotherapy (drug therapy) are applied in order to increase the effect of surgery, especially in rectal cancers. Depending on the stage of the cancer determined as a result of the pathological examination after surgery, additional oncological treatment can be given after the surgery. The chance of getting rid of the disease completely is 80-90% in a case that is caught at an early stage and has a good surgery. With today’s modern surgical techniques, less than 5% of patients are permanently bagged.
CAN IT BE PROTECTED FROM COLON AND RECTUM CANCERS?
Colon and rectal cancers are preventable and preventable diseases. This is provided by scanning programs. If there is doubt in the screening tests, colonoscopic examination is performed. The definitive diagnosis of the disease can be made with colonoscopic examination, and polyps that have not yet become cancer can be removed without the need for surgery.
Although it cannot be shown to protect it completely, some dietary recommendations are believed to be preventive in the development of the disease. These are diets with low-fat and high-fiber foods.
As a result, pay particular attention to your bowel habits. If you see persistent constipation or diarrhea, blood in your stool, you should consult a doctor.
DOES CANCER DEVELOP IN HEMOROIDS?
No. However, in the presence of colon and rectum cancers, it may cause the development of hemorrhoidal disease depending on the mass. Especially if there is a newly developed hemorrhoidal disease over the age of 40, the patient should be evaluated with rectosigmoidoscopy.
