Colon Bowel Cancer: The Death Factor

The bowel cancer is the third most common form of cancer. It is also the second leading reason for cancer-related deaths in the West. The Colorectal cancer or the colon bowel cancer is the cancer of the colon. This colon cancer includes the cancerous growths in the rectum, appendix and colon. The colon bowel cancer causes about 655 deaths each year around the globe. Frightening, isnt it?

Most of the cancers of the colon arise from the adenomatous polyps of the colon. These are mushroom like growths, which are generally benign. However, some of them may overtime develop into a cancer.

The diagnosis of colon cancer which is local is done through colonoscopy, mostly. The therapeutic treatment of this cancerous disease is normally through surgery, followed by chemotherapy in many cases.

However, the colorectal cancer doesnt cause any symptoms until it reaches a relatively advanced stage. That is why many organizations recommend screenings periodically, to check for the disease. This screening is done through colonoscopy or a fecal occult blood. They depend on the site of the lesion, if the symptoms do occur. This literally means, the nearer the lesion is to the anus, the more the symptoms of the bowel cancer would be.

One of these bowel symptoms is the change in the habit of the bowel movement. This means, that there is either a change in the frequency of the movement. That is, the patient either suffers from diarrhea or/and constipation. The quality and consistency of the stools can also change. If a person suffers from a colon bowel cancer, he may experience rectal bleeding or may also pass out bloody stools. The stools of the patient may even be filled with mucus.

Another symptom of the colon cancer is melena or tarry stools. These stools are more likely related to the duodenal or stomach diseases in the upper gastrointestinal. The patient may have a feeling of tenesmus or incomplete defecation. This symptom is usually associated with the rectal cancer. There is rare bowel obstruction and the diameter of the feces reduces.

There are many constitutional symptoms to this disease. However, sometimes only the constitutional symptoms that are less specific are found, in the cases where the cancer is in the ascending colon. Anemia is one of the major constitutional symptoms. This involves symptoms such as malaise, palpitations and dizziness.

The treatment of the colon bowel cancer depends on the stage of cancer the patient is in. At an early stage, the disease is curable. So always opt for regular check ups and dont miss it!