Colon Cancer
The large intestine is a part of the digestive system and is divided into colon and rectum. Cancers that occur in any part of the large intestine are called colon cancer. The incidence in the USA is 46 per 10,000, and approximately 100,000 colon cancer and 40,000 rectal cancer diagnoses are diagnosed annually. Again in the USA, approximately 50,000 people die annually due to colon and rectal cancer.
Risk factors
Age is an important risk factor, and 9 out of 10 colon and rectal cancers occur over the age of 50. Diet is another important risk factor, and excessive consumption of red meat (beef, sheep, liver), processed meats such as sausages, especially high temperature frying and grilling of these meats have adverse effects. On the other hand, consumption of vegetables, fruits and whole grains has positive effects in terms of colon and rectal cancer. Obesity is an extremely important health problem and increases the risk of developing colon and rectum cancer. Except those; Alcohol and cigarette consumption, type 2 diabetes, family history of colon and rectum cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn’s and Ulcerative colitis) and genetic syndromes (FAP and HNPCC) are important risk factors. 65-85% of colon and rectal cancers are coincidental, -30 familial, 5-7% genetic.
Patients’ Complaints
Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea), constipation (constipation), feeling of having a bowel movement but not being able to urinate), thinning of stool calibration and rectal bleeding are important complaints of patients. In addition, weight loss, weakness, loss of appetite, bloating are other important complaints of patients.
Diagnostic Methods
Complete blood count, fecal blood investigation, ultrasonography, computed tomography, barium colon radiography and colonoscopy. In addition, endorectal ultrasonography is important to determine the degree of local involvement in rectal cancers.
Scanning Methods
Considering the complaints of patients with colon and rectum cancer, these complaints are very non-specific complaints that can be encountered in many diseases. Therefore, the most important thing for early diagnosis in colon and rectal cancer is to implement timely screening programs. The screening program for colon and rectal cancers starts at the age of 50 and should be performed once a year for occult blood in the stool, rectosigmoidoscopy every 5 years and colonoscopy every 10 years. Patients with the above complaints should consult a physician regardless of their age.
Treatment
Treatment of colon cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach. The next step after the diagnosis of the disease is made pathologically is to determine the preoperative degree of the disease, especially by radiological methods. An appropriate surgical treatment, that is, removal of regional lymph nodes along with intact tissue boundaries, is the most important step in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers. After the detailed pathological analysis of the extracted specimen, concomitant treatments, namely chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, are used. In some cases (especially in cancers located in the lower part of the rectum), these treatments are applied before surgery.