What is a Colon cancer?Colon cancer develops in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract. Colon cancer can happen in any age but typically affects older adults. It usually develops in the form of clumps of cells which are non cancerous and are small called as polyps inside the colon. But some myths have kept people away from taking steps to protect themselves against the disease. Here are the facts which 3MEDS best online pharmacy in Delhi wants to share with you: Myth# 1: Colon cancer is a white or old man's disease.Reality: Colorectal cancer has not to do anything with the gender which means it equally affects men and women and of all races. Doctor’s usually recommends people to get screened regularly from age of 45. The risk factor associated with this disease is of age, people who are above 50 are diagnosed with this disease. Myth#2: Only people with a family history of colon cancer get it.Reality: Colorectal cancer occurs in individuals with no known risk factors found for the disease, other than being above the age of 50. The family history means that you should start screening as earliest as possible or do it more frequently. Myth#3: Having a polyp means I have cancer and need surgery.Reality: A polyp is considered as a precancerous lesion that can lead to colon cancer. If these polyps are diagnosed and removed with the time, colon cancer can be prevented. It is true that if cancer is found within the polyp, with surgery you can remove that part of the colon. Myth#4: Screening is only necessary for individuals who have symptoms.Reality: Symptoms will not appear in the early stages, so it’s important to obtain regular screening to detect the cancer. Men and women who are 45* or above and who are at high risk of family history of this disease or a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease or ovarian or breast cancer/endometrial, they need to be screened before age 45. Myth#5: Colo-rectal cancer is fatal and cannot be prevented.Reality: Colorectal cancer is curable when detected early. In many cases, colorectal cancer can be prevented. It usually begins with a small growth called as polyp. Myth# 6: Colonoscopy is unpleasant and uncomfortable.Reality: It's not as bad as you think! During the entire procedure you will be numb or asleep to eliminate discomfort. Colonoscopy takes 15 to 30 minutes and you can resume normal activities the next day. Myth# 7: If I don’t have symptoms, I don’t have colon cancer.Reality: Although people who have changes in stool, rectal bleeding, and abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss can all signal colorectal cancer. Once these symptoms begin to develop, you nedd an urgent medical attention for this. Myth#8: Age doesn’t matter when it comes to getting colorectal cancer.Reality: More than 90 percent of colorectal cancers are found in people age 50 and above. You should seek doctor’s help to start for regular screening on this. Myth#9: Surgery for colon cancer is disfiguringReality: New surgical advances comprises of minimally invasive procedures that leave only a small scar. As compared to open surgery the recovery takes times because of the larger incision whereas in laparoscopic surgery may have an easier recovery. Myth#10: Everyone should get a colonoscopy Reality: Doctor’s generally is recommending for colonoscopy screening to both genders at age 50, unless other risk factors exist. If you are younger but have other risk factors- family history, obesity, smoking, ulcerative colitis or crohn’s disease. 8 Ways to Prevent Colon CancerThere is as such no assurance of preventing from colon cancer. It’s your health. Take control. Use these measures to lower the risk of getting the disease-
Treatment overviewIn cases of cancer care, doctors create a patient’s overall treatment plan with combination of dfferent types of treatments. Before treating the patient following factors are considered-
Surgery- Surgery is often called as surgical which removes the tumor. This is preferred for treating colorectal cancer. A Part of the healthy colon or rectum and its nearby lymph nodes are removed. Some other option of surgical treatment to treat colorectal cancer includes: a. Laparoscopic surgery. Some patients may have to undergo laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery. It is an effective and conventional method of colon surgery in removing the cancer. b. Colostomy for rectal cancer. It’s not necessary that, a person with rectal cancer may need to have a colostomy. This is a surgical opening, or stoma, in which colon is connected to the abdominal surface to throw out the waste of the body, making a way for them. Sometimes, the colostomy is only temporary to allow the rectum to heal, but it may be permanent. c. Radio frequency ablation (RFA) or cryoablation. Some patients have to undergo a surgery on the liver or lungs in order to remove the tumors which have spread to those organs. But its energy can be used in some other form radiofrequency waves to heat the tumors, called RFA, or to freeze the tumor, called cryoablation. RFA is usually done through the skin or during surgery. Radiation therapyFor treating the rectal cancer, when the tumor size is big to shrink its size radiation therapy may be used before surgery, called neoadjuvant therapy, so that it is easier to remove. This therapy destroys the remaining cancer cells if left after surgery. Both approaches are helpful in treating this disease. Therapies using medication Systemic therapy comprises of medications used to destroy cancer cells. There are systemic therapies used for colorectal cancer include:
OutlookIf a cancer has not spread outside the colon or rectum, a person has more chances to survive for 5 years beyond diagnosis as a person who does not have cancer.
Survival rates of a person depend on the spread of the cancer for example if the cancer has spread to nearby tissues and lymph nodes, the 5 year survival rate drops to 71% and if it spreads to distant sites in the body, the rate drops to 14%. Early detection and treatment will help in curing the disease in an effective manner and to improve the outlook for a person with colon cancer.
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