Colon cancer starts developing in the large intestine (colon). Usually, it affects older people but can occur at any age. Ordinarily small, noncancerous clumps of cells known as polyps develop inside the colon. After some time, they can turn into colon cancer.
Let’s look at the causes, symptoms, treatment options of colon cancer, and how you can make some lifestyle changes to prevent it in the first place.
The symptoms of colon cancer are:
Constantly changing bowel habits like constipation or diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, abdominal discomforts, such as pain, gas, or cramps, blood in your stool or rectal bleeding, fatigue and weakness, and a feeling that the bowel is not emptying.
A lot of people don’t experience any symptoms in the early stage of colon cancer.
Doctors are not sure what are the most causes of colon cancers. Usually, colon cancer starts to develop when healthy cells in the colon begin to make their DNA changes.
The risk factors that increase the chances of colon cancer are old age, heavy use of alcohol and smoking, African-American race, people with a previous history of polyps or colorectal cancer, obesity, diabetes, inactive people, high-fat, low-fiber diet, family history of this cancer, inherited syndromes that increase the risk of colon cancer and inflammatory intestinal conditions.
Treatment mainly depends on the stage of colon cancer, its location, and the patient’s health condition. Usually, surgery is needed to remove cancer.
If the colon cancer is small and in its early stage, the doctor advises opting for minimally invasive surgery. If cancer has spread further and is in its advanced stages, then an operation is recommended.
To kill cancer cells, another technique known as chemotherapy is deployed. Chemotherapy can reduce the size of large cancer before surgery or after surgery if cancer has spread to the lymph nodes.
Consider watching this video to know more about the top 10 ways to prevent cancer…
To fight cancer through your immune system, a drug treatment known as immunotherapy is used. The immune system does not work against cancer since the cancer cells make proteins that make the immune system cells blind from identifying the cancer cells. Immunotherapy interferes with this procedure.
In radiation therapy, powerful energy sources are used to destroy cancer cells. This treatment can be used to reduce the size of cancer before surgery.
Targeted drug treatments work by blocking specific abnormalities present inside cancer cells. This kills the cancer cells.
With specialized medical care called palliative care, trained health professionals focus on providing relief from pain. The aim is to improve the quality of a patient’s life.
To prevent colon cancer, you can make specific lifestyle changes like these:
Keep yourself fit with a healthy weight, exercise regularly, stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Consume different vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Antioxidants, fiber, minerals, and vitamins present inside these foods prevent cancer formation.
So, how do you plan to make some lifestyle changes to prevent getting colon cancer? rite down your comments on how you plan to stay away from colon cancer.
Until Next Time,
Team Doctor ASKY!