Colon and Rectal Cancer
By Andrew Dege
Beginnings of Colon and Rectal Cancer
Colon and Rectal cancer begins as polyps lining the walls of the area. Over time, these precancerous bulbs grow until it reaches stage 4. The cancerous bulbs can now spread to other body parts. These polyps are dangerous because they show no symptoms. Some unfortunate people only catch it when it is too late.
Effects of Colon and Rectal Cancer
People who have colon and rectal cancer may experience:
- Pain in the abdomen
- blood in stool
- change in bowel habits
- constipation
- excessive amounts of gas
- anemia
- fatigue
- weight loss
How to treat Colon and Rectal Cancer
The safest way to remove these types of cancer is by surgery. But, you can only use this method when the cancer has not spread to other areas. Chemotherapy is the best next choice. The person is flushed with chemicals to kill the cancer. The downside to chemotherapy is that it can give you blood disorders. The last resort people use is radiation therapy. It can kill the cancer cells effectively, but causes lots of side-effects. It can damage the cells around the treatment area, possibly causing more cancer (plus other effects).