Colon Cancer
Overview
Colon cancer is an uncontrolled cell growth in either of the ascending, transverse or descending colons or the appendix (located close to the ascending colon) or rectum (located at the end of descending colon). Symptoms are usually bleeding, excruciating pain, difficulty in fecal movement, etc.
This type of cancer starts in the large intestine (colon) or the rectum (end of the colon). This cancer results from uncontrolled cell growth in the colon or rectum, or appendix.
The following symptoms may indicate colon cancer:
- Abdominal pain and tenderness
- Blood in the stool
- Diarrhea
- Narrow stools
- Weight loss with no reason
You have a higher risk for colon cancer if you:
- Are older than 60
- Eat a diet high in red or processed meats
- Have cancer elsewhere in the body
- Have Inflammatory bowel disease
- Have a family history of colon cancer
- Have a personal history of breast cancer
The treatment of colon cancer depends on several factors including the stage of the cancer:
- Surgery (most often a colectomy) to remove cancer cells
- Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells
- Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue