When a cancerous growth originates in the colon and then spreads to the rectum, it leads to colorectal cancer. It is the second most common form of cancer in the western world. The risk of colorectal cancer is higher after the age of fifty years. Experts have suggested that smoking, fat-rich diet, Crohn’s disease and colitis are some of the risk factors for this disease.
The symptoms of colorectal cancer include bowel disorder (diarrhea or constipation), abdominal heaviness, bloody stool, bloating, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, weight loss and tiredness. Diagnostic test like colonoscopy helps diagnose the severity of such a condition. For treatment of colorectal cancer, surgery (if detected in early stage), chemotherapy, radiation therapy and sometimes combination therapy are mostly recommended. Read about cancer — causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
Causes
The colon is a 5 feet long twisted tube that helps in the absorption of water and various nutrients from the food you eat, whereas the end portion (about 6 inches) of the digestive tract that serves as a passage for excretion of stool is called the rectum. Read about 8 cancer-causers in your daily life you should be aware of.
Colorectal cancer (also known as bowel cancer) is the 6th common cause of cancer deaths in India. It develops due to overgrowth of cells lining the colon and the rectum. These tumours can enlarge with time and then invade the colon completely. Did you know faulty genes can cause bowel cancer?
In most cases of colorectal cancer, the actual cause is not found. But certain risk factors can increase the chances of colon cancer like –
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Inflammatory bowel disease or Chron’s disease
- Family history of cancer