Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer in the United States and cancer of the colon and rectum affects approximately 150,000 persons each year. The disease can occur at any age, although the majority of persons are over age 40. Men and women appear to be affected almost equally. Colorectal cancer is more common in the United States than in other countries because of our low fiber, high fat diet.

What causes colorectal cancer?

The exact cause of most colorectal cancer is unknown, but the known risk factors listed above are the most likely causes. Less than 10 percent of colorectal cancers are caused by inherited gene mutations.

People with a family history of colorectal cancer may wish to consider genetic testing. The American Cancer Society suggests that anyone undergoing such tests have access to a physician or geneticist qualified to explain the significance of these test results.

Risk Factors

• Family history of colon and rectal polyps and/or cancer (parent, grandparent, brother, sister, children)
• Personal history of ulcerative colitus, colon polyps, cancer of other origin (breast, ovarian, uterine)
• Certain hereditary conditions, such as familial polyposis (FAP), Hereditary Nonpolyposis colon Cancer (HNPCC), Turrot's syndrome, Gardner's syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and Cowden's syndrome 
• Increasing age
• High fat, high meat diets
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Physical inactivity

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Rectal bleeding, changes in bowel habits, change in stool appearance, weight loss, abdominal or rectal pain, loss of appetite, fatigue.

How Does Cancer Start?

One of the natural functions of the body is to replace its old cells with new cells. This is done in an organized, controlled way through cell multiplication. Sometimes this multiplication gets out of control and the body is unable to stop it.

The cells accumulate and form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some tumors are benign (not cancerous) and some tumors are malignant (cancerous).  One of the most common benign tumors found in the colon are called polyps.

Biopsies of the tumor will be examined under a microscope to determine whether it is benign or malignant.

The malignant (cancerous) tumors can spread to surrounding tissues or other organs. This is a process called metastasis. Cancer cells can be spread through the bloodstream and lymphatic system.

Cancer cells can also become involved in the lymph nodes. Generally, the lymph nodes are part of the immune system, which helps to protect the body against spread of infections and cancers.

An example of a Colon Cancer
 

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