Cancer de
Colon
What
You Need to Know About Colorectal Cancer
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Colorectal Cancer: What Is It?
When doctors find this disease early, it’s highly curable. It happens when
abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (also called the
colon) or the rectum. It can strike both men and women, and it has the second
highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S.
What Are Polyps?
They're growths on the inside of your intestines. Most of them are
harmless, but some can turn into colorectal cancer if not removed early. The
two most common types of intestinal polyps are adenomas and hyperplastic
polyps. They form when there are problems with the way cells grow and repair in
the lining of the colon.
Some things you just can’t help, such as:
- Your age -- most people with it are older than 50
- Polyps or
inflammatory bowel disease
- Family history of colorectal cancer or
precancerous colon polyps
Risk Factors You Can Control
Try to avoid these things that can raise your odds of getting the disease:
- Eating a lot of red or processed meats, or those
cooked at high temperatures
- Obesity (having too much fat around the waist)
- Not
exercising enough
- Smoking
- Heavy
alcohol use
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What Are the Symptoms?
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Colorectal cancer doesn’t have
early warning signs, so it's important to get checked. Finding it early means
it's more curable. As the disease gets worse, you may see blood in your stool
or have pain in your belly, bathroom-related troubles like constipation or
diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue. By the time these symptoms
appear, tumors tend to be bigger and harder to treat.
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Tests That Find Colorectal
Cancer
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Screening tests are key to an
early diagnosis. Most people should have a colonoscopy every 10 years once they
turn 50. This test uses a tube with a tiny camera to look at the whole colon
and rectum. It can help prevent colorectal cancer by finding tumors early. Your
doctor will then remove the polyps (as pictured here).
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Virtual Colonoscopy
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This uses a CT scan to show a
3-D model of your colon. The test can show polyps or other problems without
placing a camera inside your body. The main disadvantages are the test can miss
small polyps, and if your doctor does find some, you’ll still need a real
colonoscopy. Your doctor may suggest a virtual colonoscopy once every 5 years.
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Barium Enema
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These X-rays give your doctor
a glimpse at the inside of your colon and rectum. It’s another way to find
polyps, tumors, or other changes in your intestines. Seen here is a barium
enema that shows an "apple core" tumor blocking the colon.
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Like in a virtual colonoscopy,
doctors follow up on any unusual signs with a regular colonoscopy. Your doctor
may suggest you have a barium enema once every 5 years.
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Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
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Your doctor may recommend this
test instead of a colonoscopy. He'll use a slender tube to look inside your
rectum and the bottom part of your colon. The tube has a light and a camera,
and it shows polyps and cancer. If your doctor says this is the right test for
you, you should get one every 5 years.
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Fecal Blood Tests
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The fecal occult blood test
and fecal immunochemical test can show whether you have blood in your stool,
which can be a sign of cancer. You give two or three small samples of your
stool to the doctor to study. Doctors typically recommend these tests every
year. If your samples show signs of blood, you may need a colonoscopy.
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An at-Home Choice: DNA Test
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A new test called Cologuard
looks for blood or suspicious DNA in your stool sample. The test is very
accurate at finding colon cancer, but if it does, you still need to follow up
with a colonoscopy.
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Cologuard can’t take the place
of that exam. The American Cancer Society recommends getting a stool DNA test
every 3 years.
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The Right Diagnosis
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If a test shows a possible
tumor, the next step is a biopsy. During the colonoscopy, your doctor takes out
polyps and gets tissue samples from any parts of the colon that look
suspicious.
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Experts study the tissue under
a microscope to see whether or not it is cancerous. Shown here is a
color-enhanced, magnified view of colon cancer cells.
The Stages of Colorectal
Cancer
- Stage 0: Cancer is in the innermost lining of the
colon or rectum.
- Stage I: The disease has grown into the muscle
layer of the colon or rectum.
- Stage II: Cancer has grown into or through the
outermost layer of the colon or rectum.
- Stage III: It has spread to one or more lymph
nodes in the area.
- Stage IV: It has spread to other parts of the
body, such as the liver, lungs, or bones.
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Survival Rates
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The outlook for your recovery
depends on the stage of your cancer. You might hear your doctor talk about the
“5-year survival rate.” That means the percentage of people who live 5 years or
more after they're diagnosed. Stage I has a 5-year survival rate of 87% to 92%.
But remember that those stats can't predict what will happen for everyone. Many
things can affect your outlook with colorectal cancer, so ask your doctor what
those numbers mean for you.
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Can Surgery Help?
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Surgery has a very high cure
rate in the early stages of colorectal cancer. In all but the last stage,
doctors remove the tumors and surrounding tissue. If they are big, your doctor
may need to take out an entire piece of your colon or rectum. If the disease
affects your liver, lungs, or other organs, surgery probably won’t cure you. But it may help
ease your symptoms.
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Fighting Advanced Cancer
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Colorectal cancer can still
sometimes be cured even if it has spread to your lymph nodes (stage III).
Treatment typically involves surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy (shown
here) is an option in some cases. If the disease comes back or spreads to other
organs, it will probably be harder to cure. But radiation and chemotherapy may
still ease your symptoms and help you live longer.
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Will Chemo Make Me Feel Bad?
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Newer chemotherapy drugs are
less likely to make you sick. There are also medicines that can help you
control your nausea
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Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
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This treatment uses intense
heat to burn away tumors. Guided by a CT scan, a doctor inserts a needle-like
device into a tumor and the surrounding area. The procedure can destroy some
tumors that can’t be surgically removed, like in the liver. Chemotherapy
can work with RFA.
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Prevent Colorectal Cancer With
Healthy Habits
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You can take steps to
dramatically lower your odds of getting the disease. Eat a nutritious diet, get
enough exercise, and control your body fat. Those habits prevent 45% of
colorectal cancers.
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The American Cancer Society
recommends a diet heavy on fruits and vegetables, light on processed and red
meat, and with whole grains instead of refined grains. That will help
you keep a healthy weight.
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Prevent Cancer With Exercise
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Adults who stay active seem to
have a powerful weapon against colorectal cancer. In one study, the most active
people were 24% less likely to have the disease than the least active. It
didn't matter whether what they did was work or play.
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The American Cancer Society
recommends getting 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise, like brisk walking,
or 75 minutes per week of vigorous exercise, like jogging. Try to spread
your activity throughout the week.
