Did you know that 110,000 people in USA are diagnosed with colon cancer every year? Yes, it is the third most commonly found cancer in the U.S. Regular screenings after the age of 50 years is essential to ensure an early diagnosis and timely treatment of this cancer, else it may prove to be life-threatening. You might say that you feel good and are absolutely healthy but this is where you may be going wrong. There is very much a possibility that you need not notice any symptoms while malignant tumor is developing in your colon or large intestine.
Hence, it is a wise decision to get regular colorectal screenings done after every few years than to regret later. Colonoscopy, Sigmoidoscopy and Fecal Occult Blood Test are some of the screening methods that are suggested by the doctors.
However, sometimes you may stay alert for symptoms such as bloody stools, constipation, inexplicable weight loss, thin stool, bloating, lethargy, nausea and vomiting for a warning against colon cancer.
It is also not uncommon to find cancer cells breaking away from tumor and gaining entry into the bloodstream, from where they spread over to other body organs. Early detection of colon cancer thereby controls the spread of cancer to other body parts and prevents any fatal consequences.
On the basis of body parts to which cancer has spread, different stages of cancer is determined. There are primarily four stages that are distinguished for colon cancer:
- Stage 0 – This is an early stage when cancer has been detected in the rectum or colon’s innermost lining.
- Stage I – In this stage, the cancer has spread onto a large part of rectum or colon’s inner wall of the patient.
- Stage II – This stage shows the spread of cancer to the nearby tissue that are outside the rectum or colon, though it has not yet spread to lymph nodes.
- Stage III – This signifies the spread of cancer to adjacent lymph nodes.
- Stage IV – This involves detection of colon cancer in its last stage that is when it has spread to other body parts, like lungs and liver.
Detection of the stage of colon cancer helps doctors to plan the appropriate course of treatment.
Reoccurrence of colon cancer after the treatment has been reported in many cases. It may occur in rectum, colon or any other body part. However, if the cancer has not reoccurred within 5 years, there are very bleak chances of the cancer reoccurring again. Patients’ until the Stage III of colon cancer have a hope to be cured but those who have reached Stage IV do not have any cure, though their life may be extended for sometime through treatments.
Chemotherapy, radiation and surgery are three most common treatments that are recommended for colon cancer. However, surgery is the most preferred among the three as it involves the removal of cancer of cancer through an operation. Any of these treatments or a combination of treatments might be advised by the doctor based on the stage of your colon cancer, age and your overall health. Polypectomy, colostomy and local excision are the different kinds of surgical treatments that are used.
Tags: cancer, Deadly Diseases, health articles
December 2nd, 2009 at 8:15 am
cv7D7U kbhpxwmxsdab, [url=http://gopjhstdsayk.com/]gopjhstdsayk[/url], [link=http://kxqhvdwadkos.com/]kxqhvdwadkos[/link], http://iuzjwsrfmeeb.com/
January 12th, 2010 at 4:19 pm
1KIa02 otxrxcuuquwp, [url=http://ovveycipsxqn.com/]ovveycipsxqn[/url], [link=http://tagwhutjqlye.com/]tagwhutjqlye[/link], http://gxxwzagmloab.com/
February 6th, 2010 at 4:28 pm
yCBVgq osttogtdgvgu, [url=http://ojbgieiwhlqr.com/]ojbgieiwhlqr[/url], [link=http://cvmlfpxkxikb.com/]cvmlfpxkxikb[/link], http://ddclgvhtdqph.com/