Cancer is one of the most feared diseases In Spain, in 2015, 220,000 new cases of this condition were diagnosed, according to data from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM). The future does not seem to be promising in this sense, since the United Nations (UN) estimates that in 2020 there will be 246,713 new cases of cancer in Spain, of which: 97,715 will be women and 148,998 will be men.
In this article we will talk about one of the most common types of cancer: colon cancer
Cells are essential components for our body. Our body is made of millions of trillions of these cells that have different functions. These units are grouped together to form the tissues and organs of our body. In this way, they cover our vital needs, helping, among other things, with nutrition, breathing or body structure.
When cells multiply uncontrollably and invade adjacent organs or tissues cancer occurs, that is, normal cells become cancerous
Types of cancer
Although the terms cancer and tumor are frequently confused As if they were referring to the same thing, in reality it is not: cancer is a more serious tumor. Tumors can be benign or malignant.
In the first case, the cells multiply uncontrollably but without spreading to other parts of the body. This type of tumor represents less risk to the life of the person who suffers from it, although, on some occasions, it can become a more serious tumor. Malignant tumor or cancer occurs when uncontrolled cells spread to other areas of the body, what is called metastasis
What is colon cancer
Colon cancer (or colorectal cancer) is a malignant tumor that occurs because a colonic mucosa contained in an existing polyp evolves for different reasons until it turns into cancer. According to the anti-cancer organization AECC, cases of this type of tumor are between 28,500 and 33,800 each year in this country. Of these, 20,000 new cases are men and 14,000 are women.
The same institution explains that in Spain the 5-year survival rate of suffering from this disease is currently above the average for European countries, at 64%.
The importance of early diagnosis
An early diagnosis is essential if we want to achieve an appropriate cure for this disease, but there are several risk factors that can lead to colon cancer. Risk factors include:
Warning symptoms of colon cancer
But. What symptoms may indicate that a person suffers from colon cancer? In the following lines you can find the answer to this question.
1. Blood in stool
One of the most common symptoms of colon cancer is bleeding in stool The blood may appear reddish or darker in color. While the former may be due to the fact that the tumor is located in the descending colon, the darker color is usually due to the fact that the area affected by cancer is the ascending colon.
According to Dr. Randall Holcombe, head of the cancer unit at Mount Sinai Health Center in New York, “a diagnosis of anemia may be the first sign that a person is bleeding internally, even without seeing any symptoms of bleeding.”
For women, anemia is less likely to be followed up with additional screening and testing due to menstruation, however, for men, anemia can be a clear indication that it is lost from somewhere “In reality, internal bleeding is often not detected until blood appears in the stool.
3. Excessive fatigue
A side effect of slow internal bleeding and anemia is lack of air The cause of this may be that cancer cells use up the body’s energy supply or they affect the way the body produces the energy it gets from food.
4, Feeling of being swollen
As Dr. Randall Holcombe, chief of the medical department at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City, explains, when the colon is affected, the person you feel bloated and may even feel cramps
Obviously there are many factors that can cause these symptoms, however, if the symptoms persist, the expert recommends going to a doctor as soon as possible.
5. Pain in the abdomen
In addition, Holcombe explains that: colon cancer causes constant pain on the right side of the abdomen. This usually occurs in later stages of the disease, especially if the liver is also affected
6. Variation in bowel movements
The person suffering from colon cancer may have had a normal bowel rhythm, but there has been a change in their bowel movements. For example, diarrhea or constipation appears It may also occur that periods of constipation are combined with periods of diarrhea.
Maybe when you go to the bathroom there is no bleeding in the stool, but the excrement have a different shape than the original and are thinner It is a sign of concern. As Dr. Holcombe tells it, “this could indicate a restriction in the colon caused by the polyps.”
8. Appearance and jaundice
Jaundice is common in liver metastases, and refers to the skin and white parts of the eyes turning yellow. Jaundice is common in colon cancer.
