Colon and Rectal Cancer Newsletter
By: Christian Hangey Pd.3
What is it?
Symptoms
- blood leaving the anus
- changes in bathroom habits
- changes in consistency of your waste
- cramps
- gas
- pain
- weight loss
- weakness
- diarrhea
- change in appetite
Causes and Risk Factors
- bad genetics
- a diet high in fat and low in fiber
- drinking lots of alcohol
- being overweight
- smoking
- a lack of exercise
Prevention
- don't smoke
- exercise
- eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables and not as many fats
- get screened by a doctor (colonoscopy)
Treatment
Even though treatment for colorectal cancer is similar to most other types of cancer, the treatments have to be aimed at the colon region. For example, doctors have to know how to conduct surgery in the colon region and know exactly how to make safe incisions without causing too much harm to the body. Once the cancer spreads, however, more broad treatments like chemotherapy or radiation treatment aim to kill cancer cells all over the body.
Treatments for colon and rectal cancer include...- chemotherapy
- radiation treatment
- surgery
- ablation (the destruction of tumors without their removal from the body)
- embolization (cut off blood flow to cancer cells)
Diagnosis
- colonoscopy (allows doctors to look inside the entire large intestine area)
- biopsy
- blood tests
- ultrasound
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- CAT scan (shows 3D image of the inside of the body)
Who is likely to develop it, and how common is it?
Sources
http://www.cancer.gov/types/colorectal
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/dxc-20188239
http://www.cancercenter.com/colorectal-cancer/symptoms/tab/rectal-cancer-symptoms/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155598.php
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/diagnosis
http://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/statistics
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/detailedguide/colorectal-cancer-key-statistics
http://www.stopcancerfund.org/p-colon-cancer/colon-cancer-who-is-at-risk-and-how-can-it-be-prevented/