Colon Cancer

Colon cancer also known as colorectal cancer usually begins in the large intestine or in the rectum. There are a few other types of colon cancer but they are extremely rare. The intestines are broken up into different layers of tissue and symptoms of colon cancer can and will vary according to the location. The layers help determine how far the cancer has spread too.

Colon cancer begins and grows very slowly which is why early screening for those persons at higher risks is so important. Because it develops so gradually it really can be detected and taken care of early on. Almost always colon cancer begins as a polyp that turns cancerous. Again, emphasis on regular medical screenings can detect these polyps and remove them long before they can become cancerous. Although the number of people diagnosed annually with colon cancer has dropped significantly, it is still estimated that over 100,000 people will be diagnosed with it each year and just under half will be fatal.

Colon cancer in its earliest stages may display no symptoms at all. As it progresses, these are some colon cancer early symptoms that should have you scheduling an appointment with your doctor. If you have bleeding from the rectum or blood mixed in with your stool do not just assume that it is from hemorrhoids. Diarrhea or any change in your bowel habits, unexplained anemia, abdominal pain or tenderness, narrow stools, unexplained weight loss, or bowel obstructions should be checked immediately by your doctor.

If the doctor has any suspicions after pressing on your abdomen, he may request a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy. He may also want to perform a test called a fecal occult blood test for any detection of blood in your stool. If you are diagnosed with colon cancer, more tests will have to be conducted to see what stage your cancer has spread to. Stages of cancer can range from stage 0 which is the very earliest stages through stage 5 cancer which means that the cancer has spread through the lymph nodes and to other organs as well. Stage 0 cancer can generally be treated by removing the cancerous cells whereas any cancer that has advanced past the stage 2 would probably always require chemotherapy.

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