In the USA, more than 140,000 cases of colorectal cancer have been diagnosed each year. Well, it is a curable disease; thus, do not worry. In this blog, we will study about colorectal cancer and ostomy. Usually, when there is a tumor in caecum or colon, patient diagnosis with colorectal cancer. Let's start some facts about this disease, its treatment, and the need for an ostomy.
A human body's large intestine is approximately
five feet long. It starts from the caecum and ends at the rectum. It is also
known as the colon. The large intestine or colon has the following parts;
·
Descending colon.
·
Ascending colon.
·
Transverse colon.
·
Sigmoid colon.
Thus, caecum is an ascending colon. At this point, small intestine ends, and colon starts. After this, a transverse colon attaches, it goes from the right to the left. The descending colon goes downward from the left of the transverse colon. It then goes to the sigmoid colon. It is S shape and part of the large intestine. This last section connects to the rectum. It is about eight inches long and goes to the anus.
A digestive system passes the content from the
small intestine to the large intestine. It absorbs all the essential nutrients
and sends the waste to the colon or large intestine. The colon does not eject solid
waste. It waits for the signals. The parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous
systems are responsible for giving signals to the bowel or body for the next
discharge.
Colorectal Cancer
This cancer starts with the malformed of the
colonial cells. These are the cells of the colon inner lining, called the
lumen. These units multiply, move forward, and perform their function.
Therefore, when a patient has a tumor in the colon, it grows slowly and expands
the disease. With time, it abrades the layers of the bowel. In the initial
stage, a person does not feel any pain or pang. However, these tumors get
enlarged without giving you any feelings or signals. Sometimes, they spread so
quickly. Within no time, these Polyps occupy the colon, lymphatic, and vascular
system. These tumors are in different shapes and sizes. When they invade the
entire large intestine, they cause cancer, called colorectal cancer.
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
As I write in the above para, these tumors do not
give you pain or any discomfort in the initial stage. Moreover, it is a curable
disease when it is in its early phase. However, it will show you a few symptoms
when the polyps start getting size. But, every tumor will have a different
size, shape, and location. Therefore, they will show signs to your body
according to that. Thus, the following are some common symptoms of tumor or
colorectal cancer.
·
Dark red blood in the stool.
·
Pain in the back.
·
Blockage in the lumen.
·
Pain in the lower abdomen
area.
·
Palpable masses.
·
Change in the texture of
stool.
·
Diarrhea.
·
Constipation.
·
Bloating.
·
Anemia.
·
Tarry feces.
·
Rectal bleeding.
Treatment for Colorectal Cancer
The cancer is curable. Especially, when it is in its early phase, it is 90 percent treatable. In a few cases, 95 percent operable. When a patient is at stage two, it is 75 to 80 percent curable. For stage three, it is 70 to 40 percent remediable. Well, the last stage or stage 4 is a little bit problematic. A patient has only a 5 percent chance to get over of it.
Moreover, colorectal has different treatments and
therapies. It depends on the patient's seriousness, on which stage a patient is
at. However, the common treatments for colon cancer are the primary, secondary,
or adjuvant treatment. The options in these methods are surgery, chemotherapy,
and radiation. The way of therapy depends on the goals of treatment.
