Treatment of Colorectal Cancer

DIAGNOSIS OF COLORECTAL CANCER (Colon and Rectal Cancer):

The first step in the diagnosis of colorectal cancer may be a “digital rectal exam.”
Fecal occult blood test
Barium enema
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Colonoscopy
Ultrasound
Virtual colonoscopy (CT colonography)



TREATMENT OPTIONS FOR COLORECTAL CANCER :

Treatment options for colorectal cancer depend on the stage of the tumor—that is, how far it has spread or how deeply it is affecting the intestinal wall and other tissues. Treatment is also determined by the patient's age, medical history, overall health, and tolerance for specific medications and therapies.


Standard options for colorectal cancer treatment include:

Partial Colectomy for Colorectal Cancer (also called partial bowel resection)—The tumor and normal tissue on either side of the diseased area in the colon are removed. The surgeon then reconnects the healthy colon. Sometimes the physician may have to create a temporary colostomy, or an opening for solid waste from the bowel to a special bag a patient wears outside the body, until the healthy tissue has healed. At times, the colostomy is permanent.

Laparoscopic Surgery or Keyhole Surgery for Colorectal Cancer - Small tube-like instruments and an extremely small camera are inserted into the abdomen through incisions made in the abdominal wall. The surgeon sees what the camera sees on a television-type screen and can cut out a large section of the bowel and adjacent tissue, called the mesentery.

Radiation Therapy for Colorectal Cancer - High-energy radiation is used to kill cancer cells. Radiation may be used in conjunction with surgery as definitive therapy, or may be used to reduce, or palliate, the symptoms of colorectal cancer such as pain, bleeding, or blockage. Radiation therapy is usually delivered as external-beam radiation. Radiation comes from outside the patient's body and is directed onto the cancer and surrounding tissues.

Chemotherapy for Colorectal Cancer —Drugs are given intravenously or orally to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is often given to decrease the chance of the tumor returning elsewhere in the body. Like radiation therapy, chemotherapy can ease disease symptoms and increase length of survival for patients with tumors that have spread


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Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is a term used to refer to cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. Colon and rectal cancers begin in the digestive system, also called the GI (gastrointestinal) system. This is where food is processed to create energy and rid the body of solid waste matter (stool).

Cancer that starts in the different areas may cause different symptoms. But colon cancer and rectal cancer, together known as colorectal cancer, have many features in common.

Over 95% of colon and rectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. These are cancers of the cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum. There are some other, more rare, types of tumors of the colon and rectum, but the facts given here refer only to adenocarcinomas.



CAUSES OF COLORECTAL CANCER :

There is no single cause of colorectal cancer, but some factors increase the risk of developing it:
*age – particularly after 50
*having polyps (small growths on the inner wall of the colon and rectum)
*family history of colorectal cancer –
*having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer *inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
*high-fat diet
*alcohol consumption
*smoking



SYMPTOMS OF COLORECTAL CANCER (Colon and Rectal Cancer):

A change in bowel habits—such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool—that lasts for more than a few days
Bright red or very dark blood in the stool
Discomfort in the stomach area, such as frequent gas pain, cramps, and feelings of being full or bloated
Constant weakness and fatigue
Jaundice - yellowing of the skin and eyes
Weight loss for no known reason


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