Colon cancer or bowel cancer is a condition at which the cells in the bowel region turn cancerous or malignant. Colon is the part of digestive system that helps in absorbing and processing vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats and water from food. Other functions of digestive system include removal of waste particles and to keep optimum conditions for digestion. Digestive system consists of oesophagus, stomach, small intestine and large intestine. Bowel or colon is the first six feet of large intestine. Large intestine continues to rectum and finally to anus. Through anus, waste particles are excreted out.
Risk factors influencing colon cancer
The major risk factors affecting the onset of colon cancer are age and family history. The chance of colon cancer is more in patients above the age of 50. It will also increase if one or more family members possess colon cancer. The health history of patient is considered as a factor influencing onset. Formation of polyps in colon indicates the chance of cancer. Formation of ulcerative colitis (a type of gastro intestinal disease that causes ulcers in epithelial lining of large intestine) is another risk factor of bowel cancer. There are different hereditary risk factors associated with bowel cancer. Some are familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC).
Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
There are no well defined and specific symptoms of bowel cancer. The symptoms associated with this are very common and are easily mistaken as many other disease. The major symptoms include changes in normal bowel habits and blood stains in stool. There are many other symptoms associated with colon cancer. It will be better to consult an expert doctor on occurrence of any of the symptoms. They are:
- Constipation, diarrhea and a feeling of something inside bowel and is not getting empties.
- Dark or red coloured stool with blood stains
- Loose motion or narrow stools than usual.
- Bloating, frequently occurring gas problems, fullness and cramps are some of symptoms.
- Loss of weight without any reason
- Normal bowel habits will be changed.
- High grade of tiredness and pain in body, like intense muscular activity.
- Vomiting is another symptom of colon cancer.
As these are general to many commonly occurring diseases, a thorough check is essential before final diagnosis of bowel cancer. |