Colon Cancer

Cancer is the out-of-control growth of cells in your body. Cells are the tiny building blocks of your body. Cells specialize in what they do. Different organs are made of different kinds of cells. Almost any kind of cell can become cancerous.

Colon cancer is cancer that starts in the lining of your colon. Rectal cancer is very similar. The two cancers are sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer.

• The most common symptoms are bleeding when you pass stool and feeling tired and weak

• Everyone over the age of 45 should be screened for colorectal cancer

• Colorectal cancer caught early is more curable

• Doctors usually remove the cancer with surgery

Colorectal cancer is caused by the out-of-control growth of cells in the lining of your colon or rectum. You're more likely to get colorectal cancer if you:

• Have polyps (abnormal growths) in your colon

• Have a colon disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn disease

• Eat a lot of fat, meat, and processed foods and not much fiber

• Have family members who have had colorectal cancer or colon polyps

Colon cancer grows slowly and doesn't cause symptoms for a long time. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling weak and tired—in some people this is the only symptom

• Belly pain

• Constipation (trouble passing stool)

• Blood in your stool

• Feeling like your rectum isn’t completely empty after passing stool

Sometimes the cancer blocks your colon, and you get symptoms of a bowel obstruction, such as throwing up, or having crampy belly pain or a swollen belly.

If you have symptoms that doctors think might be from colon cancer, they usually do: 

• Colonoscopy, also called a lower endoscopy

If colonoscopy shows cancer, then doctors usually do:

• CT scan of the abdomen (belly)

• Chest x-ray

• Blood tests

Doctors treat colon cancer with:

• Surgery to take out the cancerous part of your colon and join the two cut ends together

• Sometimes, chemotherapy after surgery

Understanding Colostomy

In a colostomy, the large intestine (colon) is cut. The healthy end of the large intestine, which is before the blockage, is brought to the skin surface through a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall. It is then stitched to the skin of the opening. Stool passes through the opening and into a disposable bag. The colostomy allows the remaining part of the large intestine to rest while the person recovers. After the person recovers from the surgery and the colon heals, the two ends can be reattached so that stool can pass normally.

For rectal cancer, doctors do:

• Surgery to take out part or all of the rectum

• Chemotherapy plus radiation therapy

If doctors have to take out your rectum, you usually will need a colostomy. With a colostomy, doctors attach the end of your colon to an opening in the wall of your belly. Your stool comes out of this opening into a plastic colostomy bag. The bag is stuck onto your belly with adhesive and you change it when it fills up.

After your treatment, doctors will continue to care for you and check on your health with regular testing, such as:

• Colonoscopy

• Blood test

• Liver tests

• CT (computed tomography) scan or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)