Colonoscopy Can Detect Curable Cancer
Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases. They affect the body’s basic unit, the cell. Cancer occurs when cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Like all other organs of the body, the colon and rectum are made up of many different types of cells. Normally cells divide to produce more cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps keep us healthy. If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed, a mass of extra tissue called a growth or tumor develops and can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be removed and in most cases, they do not come back. Most importantly, cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body. Benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Also, cancer cells can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream or lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads from the original tumor to form new tumors in other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
When cancer spreads to another part of the body, the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same name as the original tumor. For example, if colon spreads to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are colon cancer cells. The disease is metastatic colon cancer not liver cancer.
The human colon is a muscular tube shaped organ measuring about 4 feet in length. It extends from the end of your small bowel to your anus, twisting and turning through your abdomen (stomach). The colon has 3 main functions.
To digest and absorb nutrients from food.
To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid from it.
To store and control evacuation of fecal material.
Cancer is the transformation of normal cells. The transferred cells grow and multiply abnormally. Left untreated, these cancers grow and eventually spread through the colon wall to involve the adjacent organs, eventually spreading to the liver, lungs, brain, and bones. These cancers are so dangerous because of their rapid growth. They overwhelm healthy cells, tissues, and organs by taking their oxygen, nutrients, and space.
Figures from the National Cancer Institute, state that it has been found that according to world statistics, colon cancer is ranked number 3 in men and number 5 in women.
Causes and Risk Factors of Colon Cancer
Colon Cancer is the result of both genetics and the environment you live in. Colon Cancer is most commonly found in people over 50 years and also found in people who consume a high-fat diet, high in calories, low fiber foods, cooked red meat , smoking, drinking alcohol, and lack of exercise. Other high risk groups include people who have a history of colon cancer in their immediate family including parents and grandparents. This is further increased if any members of the direct family have contracted the disease since an early age.
Anyone suffering from the following symptoms should consult a doctor to find out if it is necessary for further investigation to screen for colon cancer.
Function and movement of the colon have changed e.g. flatulence, constipation, diarrhea, and mixed irritable bowel syndrome.
There are traces of blood or mucus in the stool.
The stool is unusually smaller or thinner than normal. (Pencil shaped).
Uncomfortable feeling in the stomach and weight loss with no apparent reasons.
Feeling tired or exhausted all the time.
Who should have a colon cancer screening test?
People who are 50 years and over.
A History of colon cancer in the family especially near relatives e.g. father, mother, or grandparents and particularly where there have been more than 2 instances then you should have an examination at an earlier age at 40 years old or younger.
There is a family history of polyps in the colon or other genetic diseases.
A recent study has provided hard evidence that colonoscopies helped doctors detect a high rate of curable cancer in people over fifty who had a colonoscopy for the first time. If you would like to make an appointment to speak to colonoscopy specialist then contact Phyathai Sriracha Hospital on email: [email protected] or telephone: 089 – 7500293 www.phyathai-sriracha.com