4/5/18: No idea why but I have a feeling I copied this off some website. IDK. 16 years old me have no much idea about plagiarism or copyright -.-
Colon(large intestine) cancer, also known as bowel cancer, is a cancer in the colon or rectum or in the appendix.
Symptoms: Worsening constipation, blood in the stool, decrease in stool calibre, loss in appetite, loss of weight, nausea or vomiting. For those over age of 50, rectal bleeding or anaemia(lack of blood) are high risk factors for them.
Colon cancer normally occurs due to lifestyle and age, with some due to genetic disorder. It usually starts in the lining of the bowel and if not treated, can grow into the muscle layer and then the bowel wall.
Screening is effective to prevent colon cancer and is recommended that people age 50 to 75 to go for screening.
Cancer that is confined in the wall of colon can be cured by surgery, but once it is spread all around the body it is most likely not curable and treatment will most likely be chemotherapy to extent the patient life.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the world and also the most common cancer in Singapore’s male. It is also the second most common cancer for Singapore’s female. It is estimated that this cancer kills around 608000 people in 2008.
Risk factor:
1. Old age
2. Gender(male)
3. High intake of fats, alcohol or red meat
4. Obesity
5. Smoking
6. Lack of physical exercises.
7. People diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease(Crohn’s disease)
8. Genetic
Prevention:
1. Lifestyle
Recommended to increase consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetable. Red meat intake should also be reduced. Physical activity can reduce risk of colon cancer too.
2. Medication
Aspirin and Celecoxib can decrease the risk of colon cancer for people with high risk. However, medication are not recommended for people at average risk. Vitamin D and blood level are related to colon cancer too.
3. Screening
As 80% of colon cancer arise from adenomatous polyps(polyps that grow on lining of the colon, and likely to develop into colon cancer), thus it is able to be ammended by screening. Screening can potentially reduce colon cancer death by 60%!
Treatment:
1. Surgery – Surgery can be done for the attempt to achieve a cure. Sometimes, chemotherapy have to be done before surgery to reduce the size of cancer before removing them.
2. Chemotherapy
3. Radiation
4. Palliative care – For people with incurable colon cancer, palliative care is considered to improve quality of life.
