Medical Health Information

Colon: Definition
Colon, large intestine also called, corresponds to the terminal portion of the intestine length of about 1.50 to 1.80 m. The last 20 inches of the colon is the rectum. Once digested food, the solid residue is then moved in the colon in the rectum or anus until they are expelled from the body.

Colorectal cancer in figures
With over 37,000 estimated new cases in 2005, colorectal cancer is one of the most common. It is, by its frequency, the third largest in humans (20,000 new cases) and second rank in women (17,000 new cases).

Causes and origins of colorectal cancer

Scientific work has shown that certain factors may increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer:

Genetic factors:
Some genetic diseases increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

The family background:
The risk of developing colorectal cancer is higher in a person with a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, child) has been reached for this type of cancer. People who have had precancerous lesions (polyps ...) or colorectal cancer have a greater risk of developing cancer.

Power:
Diet plays an important role in the etiology of colorectal cancer. The protective role of vegetables and aggravating role of a high caloric intake are the best established facts. Tobacco promote the development of adenomatous polyps and alcohol increase their size. Finally, physical activity plays a protective role.
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer

Some symptoms should lead to visit:

• bowel disorders, onset (diarrhea, constipation, alternating diarrhea and constipation)
• Abdominal pain,
• Blood in the stool.

These symptoms may be caused by cancer but also precancerous lesions or other diseases. It is important to consult a doctor to determine the cause.

Treatment of colorectal cancer

There are three main treatment for colorectal cancer: surgery, radiation (for rectal cancer only), and chemotherapy. These can be prescribed alone or in combination, taking into account the wide variety of cases.

Surgery
It remains the main treatment for colorectal cancer. The type of response depends primarily on the location and size of the tumor.

The surgeon removes the affected part of the bowel cancer by taking a margin of about 5 centimeters on each side of the tumor (this procedure is called a bowel resection).

Radiotherapy
It uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells and prevent their development. As in the case of surgery, there is a local treatment without any action on any micro-metastatic foci at a distance.

Chemotherapy
It has a single drug or a combination of anticancer drugs, it is a treatment which involves the whole broadcast from the body. After curative surgery is adjuvant therapy, prescribed to prevent the recurrence or metastasis in destroying micro-metastatic foci possible undetectable.