The colon is also called larg. intestine which is the terminal part of the alimentary tract. Cancer that develops in this part is called colonic cancer.
Though Colon cancer typically affects older adults it can happen at any age. They normally start as small polyps, later they turn malignant. Rectum is the final part of the colon and cancer which develops here is called rectal cancer
Factors that may increase the risk of colon cancer include:
Based on these investigations a staging of the tumour will be done.
The type of surgery will depend on the position of the tumour as shown in the diaphragm. If the tumour is situated very low down the large intestine then a an artificial passage to pass stools will be created (Stoma). At times a stoma will be created on temporary basis and will be closed at a later date.
Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer is larger or has spread to the lymph nodes. In this way, chemotherapy may kill any cancer cells that remain in the body and help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence.
Chemotherapy might also be used before an operation to shrink a large cancer so that it’s easier to remove with surgery
Radiation therapy uses powerful X-rays to kill cancer cells. It might be used to shrink a large cancer before an operation so that it can be removed more easily.
When surgery isn’t an option, radiation therapy might be used to relieve symptoms, such as pain. Sometimes radiation is combined with chemotherapy.
Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer. The body’s disease-fighting immune system may not attack the cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells from recognizing the cancer cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process.
Immunotherapy is usually reserved for advanced colon cancer.
Palliative care is provided by teams of doctors, nurses, social workers and other specially trained professionals They focus on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. Thereby increase the quality of life not only for the patients but also for the families.
Doctors recommend that people with an average risk of colon cancer consider colon cancer screening around age 50. But people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should consider screening sooner.