This article shows you the nature of colon cancer and how it occurs and symptoms and ways to prevent it.

Colon cancer is a large bowel cancer (colon), the lower part of the digestive tract, and rectal cancer is another cancer that is several inches away from the colon.

• Most cases of colon cancer begin with small, non-cancerous (benign) blocks of cells called adenocarcinoma, and over time some of these polyps become colon cancer.

Polyps may be small, for this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer by identifying and removing benign tumors before they become colon cancer. 

Symptoms of colon cancer

Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include:

• Change in bowel function, including diarrhea or constipation or change in stool consistency, which lasts longer than four weeks
• Bleeding from the rectum or blood appearing in the stool
• Continued abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
• Feeling that the intestine is not completely emptied
• Weakness or fatigue
• Uncertain weight loss

Many people with colon cancer do not show any symptoms in the early stages of the disease, and when symptoms appear, they are likely to vary depending on the size of the cancer and where it is located in the large intestine.When you need to see your doctor:
If you notice any symptoms of colon cancer, such as blood in your stool or constant change in your bowel function, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Talk to your doctor about when to start colon cancer screening. The guidelines generally recommend that you start screening colon cancer at age 50. Your doctor may recommend more frequent or early screening if you have other risk factors, such as the family history of the disease.

Causes of colon cancer:

In most cases, it is not clear what causes colon cancer, and doctors know that colon cancer occurs when errors occur in the DNA of colon cells.

• Healthy cells grow and divide in an organized way to keep your body functioning normally, but when the DNA of the cells becomes cancerous and cancerous, cells continue to divide - even when new cells are not needed, and when cells accumulate, they form a tumor.

Over time, cancer cells can grow to invade and destroy nearby natural tissues. Cancer cells can move to other parts of the body, and inherited genetic mutations increase the risk of colon cancer.

• Genetically inherited mutations that increase the risk of colorectal cancer can be transmitted across generations, but these inherited genes are associated with only a small percentage of colon cancer, and genetic mutations do not make cancer inevitable, but can increase the risk of cancer .

The most common forms of inherited colon cancer syndromes are:

• Hereditary Nonpollibosis Colorectal Cancer:

Also called Lynch syndrome, it increases the risk of colon cancer and other cancers, and people with this type of cancer tend to develop colon cancer before the age of 50 years.

• Family glandular disease:

A rare disorder that causes the development of thousands of polyps in the lining of the colon and rectum. People with this untreated type have a significant increase in the risk of colon cancer before the age of 40.
Congenital colon cancer syndrome can be detected by genetic testing, On the history of your family getting colon cancer, you should talk to your doctor about whether your family history indicates that you have a risk of injury or not.The relationship between diet and increased risk of colon cancer:
Studies conducted on large groups of people have shown that there is a correlation between diet and an increased risk of colon cancer, especially the typical Western diet in high fat and low fiber.

• When people move from areas where the typical diet is low in fat and high in fiber to areas where the typical western diet is more common, the risk of colorectal cancer in these people increases significantly.

It is not clear why this happens, but researchers are studying whether a high-fat diet, low fiber affects microbes that live in the colon or causes basic infections that may contribute to the risk of cancer, this is an area of

active investigation, Ongoing on this matter.

Risk factors in colon cancer:

                           

Factors that may increase your risk of colorectal cancer include:
1. Older people: The
vast majority of people diagnosed with colon cancer are over 50 years old and colon cancer can occur in young people, but it occurs less frequently.
2. African Americans:
African Americans have a higher risk of colon cancer than people of other races.
3. Personal history of colorectal cancer or benign tumors:
If you already have colon cancer or benign benign tumors, it will have a greater risk of future colon cancer.
4. Gastrointestinal
diseases : Chronic inflammatory diseases in the colon, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, can increase the risk of colon cancer. 5. inherited syndromes that increase the risk of colon cancer:

Genetic syndromes that have passed through generations of your family can increase the risk of colon cancer. These syndromes include familial adenoma and unknown colorectal cancer, also known as Lynch syndrome.
6. Family History of Colorectal Cancer:
If you have a parent or a brother with the disease, and if you have more than one member of your family with colon cancer or rectal cancer, you are more likely to have colon cancer.
7. Low-fiber, high-fat diets:
Colon cancer and rectal cancer may be associated with a low fiber diet and high in fat and calories. Research in this area has yielded mixed results. Some studies have found an increased risk of colon cancer People who eat diets rich in red meat and processed meats.
8. Lazy lifestyle:
If you are inactive, you are more likely to have colon cancer, and regular physical activity may reduce the risk of colon cancer.
9. Diabetes:
People with diabetes and insulin resistance may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
10. Obesity:
Obese people have an increased risk of colon cancer and an increased risk of dying from colon cancer compared to people who enjoy normal weight.
11. Smoking:
People who smoke may have an increased risk of colon cancer.
12. Alcoholic drinking:
The heavy use of alcohol may increase the risk of colon cancer.
13. Radiation therapy for cancer:
Radiation therapy to the abdomen to treat cancer may increase the risk of colon cancer. 

Diagnosis of colon cancer:

Doctors recommend some screening tests for healthy people who have no signs or symptoms to look for early signs of colorectal cancer. Early colon cancer diagnosis offers the greatest chance of treatment and has been shown to reduce the risk of dying from colon cancer.

• People with a risk of colon cancer may start screening at age 50, but people with increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should be screened sooner, and African Americans and American Indians should examine Colon cancer at the age of 45 years.

There are many diagnostic options and each has its own benefits and disadvantages. You should talk about diagnostic options with your doctor, and together you can decide which tests are right for you. Diagnosis of colon cancer
If your signs and symptoms indicate that you may have colon cancer, your doctor may recommend one or more tests, including:
1. Laparoscopy: The
use of the endoscopy to examine the inside of the colon, and the colonoscopy uses a long, flexible tube attached to a video camera The entire colon and rectum is monitored, and if any suspicious areas are found, the doctor can pass the surgical instruments through the tube to sample tissue (biopsies) for analysis.
2. Blood tests:
No blood test can tell us if you have colon cancer, but your doctor may test your blood for evidence about your general health, such as kidney and liver function tests. Your doctor may also test your blood to make sure there is a chemical that sometimes produces colon cancer, and following it may help your doctor understand the diagnosis and if the cancer responds to the treatment.

Stages of colon cancer:

If diagnosed with colon cancer, the doctor will order tests to determine the extent of the cancer. Staging helps determine which treatments are most appropriate for the condition.Stage-setting tests may include imaging procedures such as a CT scan, and in many cases the cancer stage may not be determined even after colorectal cancer surgery.

Stages of colon cancer are:

Stage 1:
Cancer growth through a superficial lining (mucosa) of the colon or rectum but did not spread outside the wall of the colon or rectum.
Stage 2:
Cancer growth through the wall of the colon or rectum but has not spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 3:
Cancer may invade nearby lymph nodes but does not affect other parts of your body.
Stage 4:
Cancer spread to distant sites, such as other organs - for example, to the liver or lung.  

 Treatment of colon cancer and treatment methods with the disease:

The type of treatment recommended by the doctor depends largely on the stage of cancer, and the three primary treatment options are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation.

Surgery for colon cancer at an early stage:

If your colon cancer is too small, your doctor may intervene in surgery, such as:
1. Removal of benign tumors through colonoscopy:
If the cancer is small, and at a very early stage, the doctor may be able to remove it through the colonoscopy.
2. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy:
Removal of large polyps may also require taking a small amount of the lining of the colon in a procedure called laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
3. Minimally invasive surgery:
The benign tumors that can not be removed during the colonoscopy can be removed using laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure, the surgeon performs the operation through several small incisions in the abdominal wall, inserting the instruments with the attached cameras that display the colon on the video screen, It also takes samples of the lymph nodes in the area where the cancer is located.

Surgery for invasive colon cancer:

If colon cancer has grown to or through the colon, the surgeon may recommend:
1. Partial colon resection:
During this procedure the surgeon removes a portion of the colon that contains the cancer, along with a margin of natural tissue on both sides of the cancer, The surgeon is able to reconnect healthy parts of the colon or rectum.
2. Surgery to create a way to remove waste outside the body:
When it is not possible to reconnect healthy parts of the colon or rectum, you may need a permanent or temporary colon passage, this involves creating an opening in the abdominal wall of the remaining intestine portion to eliminate waste Body in a special bag. Sometimes the colon passage is only temporary, allowing time with the colon or rectum to heal after surgery, and in some cases the passage to the colon may be permanent.3. Remove the lymph node:


The nearby lymph nodes are also removed during colon cancer surgery and cancer tests.Advanced cancer surgery:
If the cancer is too advanced or your general health is very bad, the surgeon may recommend a process to reduce colon obstruction or other problems in order to improve symptoms. This surgery is not performed to treat cancer, but to relieve signs and symptoms such as bleeding and pain.

• In specific cases where cancer spreads to the liver and if your general health is good your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the cancer lesion from the liver. Chemotherapy can be used before or after this type of surgery, and this treatment may improve diagnosis.

Chemotherapy:

Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes. In this way, chemotherapy may help reduce the risk of recurrence. Chemotherapy can be used before surgery to reduce cancer. before the operation.

• Chemotherapy can also be given to relieve the symptoms of colon cancer that has spread to other areas of the body.

In people with rectal cancer, chemotherapy is usually used alongside radiation therapy, and this combination is often used before and after surgery.Radiotherapy: Radiation therapy
uses powerful sources of energy, such as x-rays, to kill cancer cells that may remain after surgery, to shrink large tumors before the operation so that they can be removed more easily, or to relieve the symptoms of colon cancer and rectal cancer. Radiation therapy is rarely used in early stage colorectal cancer, but is a routine part of the treatment of rectal cancer, especially if the cancer may penetrate through the rectal wall or go to nearby lymph nodes, radiation therapy is usually along with chemotherapy, It can be used prior to surgery in order to make the operation easier, and can also be used after surgery to reduce the risk that cancer may recur in the rectal area.

Drug therapy:

Drugs targeting specific defects that allow cancer cells to grow are available to people with advanced colon cancer, including:

• Bifacizumab (Avastin)
• Sitoximab (Erbitux)
• Panetomomab (Vectibix)
• Ramosirumab (Ceramza)
• Regroupin (Stevarga)
• Ziv-Aflebersept

Targeted drugs can be given along with chemotherapy or alone, and targeted drugs are usually reserved for people with advanced colon cancer. Some people are treated with targeted drugs, while others do not respond to treatment. Researchers work to determine who is most likely to benefit from targeted drugs. Until then, doctors carefully take the limited benefit of targeted drugs against the risk of side effects and the high cost of taking a decision on Use these treatments.

Palliative:

care Palliative care is a specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of any serious illness. Palliative care workers work with you and with your family and your doctors to provide an additional layer of support that compliments continuous care.

• When palliative care is used along with all other appropriate treatments, people with cancer may feel better and live longer.

Palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specially trained professionals. Palliative care teams aim to improve the quality of life of people with cancer and their families. This type of care is provided along with other therapeutic or other treatments that you may receive.

Alternative medicine:

No complementary or alternative treatments for colorectal cancer were found. Alternative treatments may help you deal with the diagnosis of colon cancer, and almost all people with cancer suffer from some narrowness, and common signs and symptoms of distress after diagnosis may include grief, anger, difficulty concentrating, difficulty sleeping and loss of appetite, alternative therapies may help redirect your thoughts at least temporarily, To give you some relief.

Alternative treatments that may help relieve stress include:

• Technical treatment
• Dance or movement therapy
• Playing sports
• Meditation
• Music Therapy
• relaxation exercises

Your doctor can refer you to professionals who can help you know and try to use these alternative therapies, and you should tell your doctor if you are suffering from an ordeal.Adaptation and support:Cancer diagnosis can be an emotional challenge, and in a timely manner everyone learns to treat it in its own way, and even find what suits you, you can try:

1. Learn what to expect and learn enough about your cancer to feel comfortable and make treatment decisions.
2. Ask your doctor to tell you about your type and stage of cancer, as well as treatment options and side effects. The more you know, the more confident you are when it comes to making decisions about your own care, and look for information in your local library and on trusted websites.
3. Keeping your relationship with friends and family close, and maintaining close, strong relationships will help you deal with cancer. Friends and family can provide the practical support you will need, such as helping care for your home if you are in the hospital and can act as emotional support when you feel overwhelmed by cancer.
4. Find someone to talk to, find a good listener who is willing to listen to your talk about your hopes and hopes, this may be a friend or family member.

Prevention of colon cancer:

People with a risk of colon cancer can be seen in screening starting at the age of 50, but people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colon cancer, should be examined sooner. There are many screening options, each with its own benefits and disadvantages, and talk about your options with your doctor, and together you can decide which tests are right for you.

Making lifestyle changes to reduce cancer risk:

You can take steps to reduce the risk of colon cancer by making changes in your daily life:

1. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, as fruits, vegetables and whole grains contain vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may play a role in preventing cancer, choosing a variety of fruits and vegetables so that you get a range of vitamins and nutrients.
2. Stop smoking and talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking that may suit you.
3. Exercise most days of the week and try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise most days. If you are inactive, start slowly and gradually increase for 30 minutes and also talk to your doctor before starting any exercise program.
4. Keep Your Weight Healthy and Ideal If you are a healthy weight, you should work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise exercises. If you need to lose weight, ask your doctor about healthy ways to achieve your goal and aim to lose weight slowly by Increase the amount of exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat.

Prevention of colon cancer for people with high risk:

Some drugs have been found to reduce the risk of pre-cancerous or colon cancer tumors; however, there is insufficient evidence to recommend these drugs to people who have an average risk of colon cancer, usually these

• For example, some evidence links the risk of low polyps and colon cancer with the regular use of aspirin, but it is not clear what dose and length of time is needed to reduce the risk of colon cancer, taking aspirin daily has some risks, including gastrointestinal bleeding and ulcers, Doctors usually do not recommend this strategy for prevention unless you have an increased risk of colon cancer.

                     

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