Colon cancer comes up whenever cancerous cells develop in the colon (large intestine).
Colon cancer is relativelycommonand affects people of all genders.
This article discusses colon cancer development, symptoms, treatment, and the factors influencing outcomes.
Illustration by Zoe Hansen for Verywell Health
Signs of colon cancer depend on how advanced the disease is.
Early signs of colon cancer often go unnoticed until more apparent symptoms develop over time.
Tenesmus may cause pain, discomfort, cramping, and excessive straining.
Other Symptoms
Nausea that may lead to vomiting is another sign of colon cancer.
As the disease persists, more systemic symptoms emerge.
Among these are feelings of fatigue (extreme tiredness) and a lack of energy.
Further symptoms may include unexplained weight loss andanemialow red blood cell count due to bleeding.
Progressive Symptoms and Complications
As colon cancer progresses, it can lead to several complications.
The ACS doesnt recommend testing for those 86 or older.
As oncogene activity increases and tumor-suppressing genes slow down, cells multiply rapidly and spread, forming cancerous growths.
It is a 5-foot-long tube that connects the small intestine to the anus.
Sometimes noncancerous growths, or polyps, as well as precancerous polyps, can develop into cancer.
Cancer Stages
Healthcare providersstage colon cancerbased on how far it has spread.
Treatment to Remove Colon Cancer
There are several treatments for colon cancer.
Therapies for colon cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and medications.
Radiation Therapy
Cancer specialists, known asoncologists, typically recommendradiation therapyalongside surgery.
Radiation therapy involves directing radiation to the affected areas to kill cancer cells.
The success of radiation therapy depends on the cancer stage and the specific method used.
It ranges from 15% to 91% in five years.
Drugs that treat this condition includeAvastin(bevacizumab),Cyramza(ramucirumab), andZaltrap(ziv-aflibercept).
Side effects include bleeding from the rectum, headaches, high blood pressure, and protein in the urine.
These therapies may cause itching, fever, chills, dizziness, and wheezing.
Researchers found cure rates ranging from 18.6% to 43.8% at two years.
Overall, researchers have found that about 14.6% of those who receive surgery experience recurrence within five years.
However, the chances of the cancer coming back also depend on how advanced it is.
In about 20% of cases, the cancer returns following surgery or other treatment.
Overall, about two-thirds of those diagnosed survive five or more years.
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