Colon Cancer Risk Factors
Age
When the age increasing the risk of colon cancer is increasing too. Colon cancer is more common in people aged over 50 years, but nowadays it also can occur at a younger age.
Race and ethnicity. Race African Americans are more risk of developing colon cancer than other races, although not obtained a clear answer why this happened. Ashkenazi Jew also have a high risk for development of this cancer. Some genetic mutations found in Ashkenazi Jews, which make greater chance to get this cancer.
Family History. If you have a family history with colon cancer experience, you probably have a greater risk for developing colon cancer as well.
Medical history. Polyps is other risk factor for colon cancer. Polyps are a mass of growth in the colon. As many as 70-90% of cases of colon cancer comes from polyps, and lift operation will reduce the risk of polyps become colon cancer. However, removal of polyps is not mean we're free from colon cancer because these polyps can grow back. The best way to overcome this problem is to conduct regular examinations of the colon. Another colon cancer risk factor is gastrointestinal tract (inflammatory bowel disease).
Genetics.
There are two types of genes are most associated with colon cancer, Familial adenomatous (FAP) and Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC). About 5% cases of colon cancer because these genes and Peutz-jeghers syndrome.
Other risk factors. There are several other risk factors that lead to colon cancer such as smoking, alcohol, physical activity level, obesity.
Age
When the age increasing the risk of colon cancer is increasing too. Colon cancer is more common in people aged over 50 years, but nowadays it also can occur at a younger age.
Race and ethnicity. Race African Americans are more risk of developing colon cancer than other races, although not obtained a clear answer why this happened. Ashkenazi Jew also have a high risk for development of this cancer. Some genetic mutations found in Ashkenazi Jews, which make greater chance to get this cancer.
Family History. If you have a family history with colon cancer experience, you probably have a greater risk for developing colon cancer as well.
Medical history. Polyps is other risk factor for colon cancer. Polyps are a mass of growth in the colon. As many as 70-90% of cases of colon cancer comes from polyps, and lift operation will reduce the risk of polyps become colon cancer. However, removal of polyps is not mean we're free from colon cancer because these polyps can grow back. The best way to overcome this problem is to conduct regular examinations of the colon. Another colon cancer risk factor is gastrointestinal tract (inflammatory bowel disease).
Genetics.
There are two types of genes are most associated with colon cancer, Familial adenomatous (FAP) and Hereditary Non-polyposis Colon Cancer (HNPCC). About 5% cases of colon cancer because these genes and Peutz-jeghers syndrome.
Other risk factors. There are several other risk factors that lead to colon cancer such as smoking, alcohol, physical activity level, obesity.
Colon Cancer TreatmentSurgery is usually the primary treatment for early-stage colon cancer.
A Polipectomi is a common method used by physicians (experts endoscope) to remove dangerous colon polyps (leading to pre-cancer) at the time of colonoscopy. When polyps become a cancer, an operation called colectomy or segmental resection is needed. Usually the doctor will remove the affected part of bowel cancer (including nearby lymph nodes), and then reconnect the remaining bowel.
Long-term prognosis after surgery depends on whether the area affected by cancer (metastasis). The risk of metastasis is proportional to the inside penetration of the cancer. In patients with early colon cancer is confined to the outer layer (superficial) bowel wall, surgery is often become the only option, at this stage survival chance is more than 80%. In patients with advance colon cancer stage, where the tumor has penetrated into the back of the bowel wall and no evidence of metastasis to organs distant, five-year survival rate is less than 10%.
In some patients, there was no evidence of distant metastasis at the time of surgery, but the cancer has penetrated deeply into the colon wall or reach the lymph nodes nearby. These patients are risk of tumor recurrence from one of these locally or in remote organs. Chemotherapy in these patients may delay tumor recurrence and improve survival.
A laparoscopic surgical colostomy using more sophisticated techniques that do not require such a long incision in the usual surgery (open surgery). Some of the benefits of this method is a pain after surgery is much reduced and the patient does not need to be hospitalized for long time.
At the early stage of rectum cancer, doctors may perform surgery such as excision of local and trans-anal local resection, this method is done without making incision in the skin.
At stage II and III of colon cancer and rectum cancer, may require more serious treatment treatment / surgery, with one of these methods:
Low Anterior Resection: This method is done when the position is located above the rectum cancers close to the border of the colon. The surgeon needs to make an open incision in the abdomen to remove the cancer (and their lymph nodes are infected), without affecting the anus.
Proctectomy with colo-anal anastomotosis: When the cancer lies between the middle and two thirds below the anus, the rectum and entire colon that attached to the anus needs to be removed. This is called a colo-anal anastomosis (anastomosis means connection).
Abdominoperineal resection (AP): If the cancer is at the rectum bottom near the anus, the surgeon also needs to lift her anus.
Colon Cancer Surgery side effects.
Side effects of surgery depend on many things, such as the operating level and the person's general health before surgery. The pain after surgery, is generally felt. Other effects that may arise include: bleeding, blood clots in the legs, and damage to nearby organs during surgery. In rare cases, a connection can leak and cause intestinal infections. Manufacture of ostomy or urostomy also can sometimes cause a sense of awkwardness and stress for patients at an early stage. For that, they need guidance from the paramedics so that you can get used to living habits as well as voiding the new Chapter.
Surgery can also affect your sex life. Some side effects that may arise, among others, does not discharge semen during orgasm, erection problems in men, as well as pain and decreased sexual arousal in women.
Colon Cancer Radiotherapy
Radiotherapy treatment usually use when cancer are attached to internal organs or the inner lining of abdomen. In this case radiotherapy is used after surgery to ensure all cancer cell has been died. For rectal cancer, radiation is often given either before or after surgery to help prevent cancer recurrence.
A special technique of radiotherapy can be performed in cases of rectal cancer with small tumors. Radio-surgery therapy technique allows removal of the tumor, without the need to perform open surgery. In some cases that patients can not undergo open surgery the Brachytherapy (internal radiation therapy) is an option. In this method, small pellets or seeds of radioactive material placed directly into the cancer in the short term with the aim of turning off the cancer without damaging surrounding healthy tissue.
Colon Cancer Chemotherapy Treatment
Chemotherapy treatment use drugs, the drugs given by infusion or oral (tablet) to kill the cancer cell. Chemotherapy is sometimes used before surgery to shrink the cancer, or in cases of metastatic colon cancer to the liver.
