Colon cancer

Symptoms

Local Colon Cancer Symptoms
• Changes in your bowel habits, such as bowel movements that are either more or less frequent than normal
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• (alternating) constipation and diarrhea
• Bright red or dark red blood in your stools or black, dark colored, "tarry" stools
• Stools that are thinner than normal or feeling as if you cannot empty your bowels completely
• Abdominal (midsection) discomfort, bloating, frequent gas pains, or cramps

Systemic Colon Cancer Symptoms
• Unintentional weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Anemia
• Jaundice
• Weakness or fatigue


Colon and Rectal Cancer: Risk Factors
1) Polyps
The large intestine
Colon cancer usually derives from precancerous polyps that exist in the large intestine. The most common types of polyps are:
• Adenomas: can become cancerous but are usually removed during colonoscopy
• Hyperplastic polyps: rarely become colon cancer
• Inflammatory polyps: usually occur after inflammation of the colon and may become cancerous

• Family History of Colorectal Cancer: Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer are at an increased risk of developing the disease. The degree of risk depends upon the type of relative affected.
• Personal History of Chronic Inflammatory Bowel Disease:
• Age: the cells in a 70 year old body have had more time to accumulate the changes needed to form cancer cells but those in a child are much less likely to have acquired the required changes. More than 91% of patients are diagnosed with colorectal cancer over the age of 50
• Other reasons include
• Excessive drinking of alcohol
• Obesity
• Physical Inactivity
• Smoking
• A diet very high in animal protein.
• A diet very high in saturated fats.
• A diet very low in dietary fiber.
• A diet very high in calories.
• Women who have had breast, ovary and uterus cancers.
• Patients with ulcerative colitis.

Diagnosis

Sigmoidoscopy:
Colonoscopy:
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS):

Imaging tests, which may include:
• CT or CAT (computed axial tomography) scan
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan
• PET/CT (positron emission tomography) scan
• Virtual colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy
• Double contrast barium enema (DCBE):