Symptoms, causes, treatments and prevention associated with colon cancer

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine (colon), the lower part of your digestive system. Cancer of the last several inches of the colon is called as rectal cancer. Together, they're often alluded to as colorectal cancers. Most cases of it begin with small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps. As time passes these polyps become colon cancers.

Symptoms:

• A variation in your bowel habits, including constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool
• Blood in your stool
• Rectal bleeding
• Persistent abdominal inconvenience, such as cramps, pain or gas
• A feel that your bowel doesn't empty fully
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Causes:

In most cases, it's not clear what causes colon cancer. Doctors have an idea that it occurs when healthy cells in the colon become altered. Healthy cells grow and divide in a regular way to keep your body functioning normally. But sometimes this growth is uncontrollable and cells continue to divide even when new cells aren't needed.

In the colon and rectum, this exaggerated growth may cause precancerous cells to form in the lining of your intestine. Over a long period of time — spanning up to several years — some of these areas of abnormal cells may become cancerous. Inherited gene mutations that increase the risk of it and can be passed through families, but these inherited genes are associated to only a small percentage of colon cancers.

Treatment:

The type of treatment your doctor recommends will depend largely on the stage of your cancer. The three most common treatment options are:

• Surgery
• Radiation
• Chemotherapy

o Surgery for early-stage
o Surgery for invasive
o Surgery for advanced cancer
o Chemotherapy
o Radiation therapy
o Targeted drug therapy

Prevention:

You can take steps to reduce your risk of it by making changes in your everyday life.
• Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Whole grains, vegetables and fruits contain vitamins, fiber minerals, and antioxidants, and these may play a role in cancer prevention.

• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all. If you want to drink alcohol, limit the amount of alcohol consumption to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.

• Stop smoking. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit that may work for you.

• Exercise most days of the week. On most of the days try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise.

• Maintain a healthy weight. If you have a healthy weight, you can try to maintain your weight by combining a daily exercise with healthy diet.