Colon cancer starts and progresses in the terminal organ of the digestive tract, the large intestine. It impacts the colon and the rectum of the large intestine before spreading to distant parts of the body. It is also known as colorectal cancer. It is the third most common type of cancer in males and the fourth most common in females in the country. This article lists the possible causes, symptoms, and stages of colon cancer.

Causes

There are no known specific causes that point toward the condition. But there are some factors that contribute to the development of the condition.

High-fat foods

Colon and rectal cancer can often be linked to the regular consumption of foods high in calories and trans fats and low in fiber content.

Intestinal inflammation

Conditions like ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease subject the colon to chronic inflammation. The constant inflammation may contribute as a risk factor for colon cancer development.

Family history

In most types of cancer, family history is a contributing factor. If the patient has had any relatives who were previously diagnosed with colon cancer, they can be considered to be at a higher risk of developing the condition.

Inactivity

A sedentary lifestyle is a contributing factor to the development of numerous health concerns, including but not limited to colon cancer.

In addition to the above, there are certain risk factors that can be better managed or prevented. These include lifestyle and food choices, like regular exercise, increased intake of fibrous food, and limited intake of habit-forming substances. On the other hand, factors that cannot be controlled, like genetics, age, and gender, can also play a role.

Symptoms

Patients with colon cancer can present with one or multiple of the following mentioned symptoms:

• Constipation and/or diarrhea
• Dark brown or black looking stools die to the presence of blood
• Bleeding of the rectum
• Change in the consistency of stools
• Abdominal cramping and pain
• Bloating
• Unsatisfactory bathroom visits
• Constant urge to defecate
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Anemia caused by iron deficiency
• Unexplained weight loss

Usually, patients complain about symptoms like unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain, and cramps in the later stages of the disease. Additionally, if cancer manages to metastasize, it can cause additional symptoms to the organs it has started impacting. For example, if tumors are found in the liver, patients can develop complications like jaundice.

Most patients receive a diagnosis in the later stages of the progression of the disease, as during the early stages, colon cancer is usually symptomless. As it progresses, signs like blood in stools, change in stools and their frequency, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, and fatigue can be observed.

Stages

Different types of cancer are divided into stages that are indicative of the progression of the condition and the extent to which it has spread to other parts of the body. The below data explains the stages of colon cancer and the possible treatment options for each:

Stage 0

In the earliest stages, curing cancer is still a possibility for many patients. The fact that the cancer cells are limited to the colon’s inner lining plays an integral part in the treatment. At this stage, doctors can perform a laparoscopic procedure, also known as a colonoscopy, to cut out the cancerous polyps. If the size of the tumor is bigger, the doctor may choose to perform a partial colectomy and remove the polyps in the colon.

Stage 1

In stage 1, the colon polyps are of higher grade and penetrate the colon lining, causing damage to the healthy cells surrounding the polyp. At this stage, a colonoscopy does not give the desired results, as it does not completely excise the tumor. As a result, doctors may decide on multiple partial colectomy procedures to completely remove the tumor.

Stage 2

In this stage of advancement, the colon polyps achieve a deeper level of penetration into the lining of the colon. However, since they do not invade the lymph nodes, the cancer is not said to have metastasized. The treatment options remain the same for stage two colon cancer as in stage one.

Stage 3

Stage 3 is when the colon cancer has achieved metastasis. At this stage, the cancerous cells successfully invade the body’s lymphatic system and circulatory system. Here, surgery is believed to be the best line of treatment. However, for patients with low energy or compromised immune response, radiation and chemotherapy options are safer.

Stage 4

In stage 4, the cancer cells metastasize to various other parts of the body by using the circulatory system and lymph nodes as their mode of transport. At this stage, cancer has vastly spread, and treatment procedures yield comparatively poor results. The possible treatment options also have a low survival rate.