2. The Human Colon
The human colon is a
muscular, tube-shaped
organ measuring about 4
feet long. It extends from
the end of your small
bowel to your anus,
twisting and turning
through your abdomen
(belly).
3. Functions of the Colon
The colon has 3 main functions.
To digest and absorb nutrients from food
To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid
(and electrolytes) from it
To store and control evacuation of fecal material
4.
5. What is colon cancer?
Cancer of the colon or rectum is called colon or
colorectal cancer. It develops in the digestive
tract from polyps that initially are benign, but that
over time mutate into a cancerous tumor. The
cancer cells invade and destroy nearby
tissue, and can break away to form new tumors in
other parts of the body, a process called
metastasis.
6.
7. Symptoms
A change in your
bowel
habits, including
diarrhea or
constipation or a
change in the
consistency of your
stool
Rectal bleeding or
blood in your stool
Persistent abdominal
discomfort, such as
cramps, gas or pain
A feeling that your
bowel doesn't empty
completely
Weakness or fatigue
8. Treatments/Potential Cures
The primary treatment of colon
cancer is to surgically remove part or
all of your colon. Suggestive polyps, if
few in number, may be removed
during colonoscopy.
Chemotherapy after surgery can
prolong survival for people whose
cancer has spread to nearby lymph
nodes.
Radiation treatment after surgery
does not help people with colon
cancer, but it does prolong survival
for people with rectal cancer.
Given before surgery, radiation may
reduce tumor size. This can improve
the chances that the tumor will be
removed successfully.
Radiation before surgery also
appears to reduce the risk of the
cancer coming back after treatment.
9. You have a high risk of colon cancer
if:
You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you:
Are older than 60
Are African American of eastern European
descent
Eat a diet high in red or processed meats
Have cancer elsewhere in the body
Have colorectal polyps
Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's
disease or ulcerative colitis)
Have a family history of colon cancer
Have a personal history of breast cancer
10. Genetic syndromes that increase the
risk of colon cancer
Two of the most common are:
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer
(HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome
11. Preventative Measures
All men and women over
fifty should get a colon
cancer screening because
colon cancer can almost
always be caught by
colonoscopy in its earliest
and most curable stages.
Changing your diet and
lifestyle is important. Some
evidence suggests that
low-fat and high-fiber diets
may reduce your risk of
colon cancer.
