Colon Cancer

The large intestine or colon is a part of the gastrointestinal tract that makes and stores stool.

It includes the Ascending colon, Transverse colon, Descending colon and the Sigmoid colon.

The cause of cancer is an uncontrolled multiplication of cells lining the colon.

Before a true cancer develops, it usually begins as a non-cancerous growth called a polyp. Certain people can have multiple polyps in their colon which are inherited genetically.

Over a period of several years a polyp has the potential to become cancerous.

A cancerous polyp grows rapidly in size, eventually breaking through the wall of the colon and spreading through the tiny channels called lymph vessels.

The cancer can also spread through blood vessels to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of colon cancer are:

1. Blood in the stools
2. A change in bowel habits resulting in either more constipation or diarrhea than normal.
3. Abdominal pain.
4. Unintended weight loss

Medical investigations required to detect colon cancer are:

1. Colonoscopy
   A long flexible tube called a colonscope is passed through the anus and manipulated to visualize the colon and identify the cancer growths.
2. Barium enema
3. CT scan or MRI
4. Routine blood tests

Treatment
Treatment varies depending on the stage of the disease. Some patients will need surgery to remove the diseased segment of the bowel followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy