Diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a cancer that affects the colon and rectum part of the human body and in most cases there is usually no symptoms or little symptoms to show that it exists in an individual. Most medical doctors may recommend certain screening tests for healthy individuals who show no sign or symptom of colorectal cancer in order to detect colorectal cancer or noncancerous colorectal polyps. This test would also help to learn if the cancer might have spread to another part of the part from its origin.
It is generally recommended that people with an average risk of colon cancer begin screening around age 50. But people with an increased risk, such as those with a family history of colorectal cancer, black race, signs and symptoms or suspected case of cancer, should consider screening sooner. And just like every other type of cancer, a biopsy is the best way for medical doctors to determine the area of the body that has cancer.
In addition to a physical examination, the following tests may be used to diagnose colorectal cancer.
Treatment of Colorectal Cancer
In choosing the best treatment plan for colorectal cancer, a medical doctor considers so many factors that include the location of the cancer, its stages and overall health conditions, family history and allergies. The treatment of colorectal cancer usually involves surgery which is used to remove the cancer; chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be considered.
Early Stage Colon Cancer: In situation where the tumour is very small, a doctor may recommend a minimal form of surgery, such as:
But in certain situation when the cancer has grown into or through the colon, a doctor may recommend:
Surgery for Advanced Cancer
When an individual overall health is very poor, a doctor may recommend an operation to relieve the blockage of the colon. This surgery isn’t used to cure cancer but to relieve signs and symptoms, bleeding or pain. In specific cases where the cancer has spread only to the liver or lung but the overall health is otherwise good, doctor may recommend surgery or other localized treatments to remove the cancer. Chemotherapy may be used before or after this type of procedure. This approach provides a chance to be free of cancer over the long term.
2. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to destroy cancer cells. Chemotherapy for colon cancer is usually given after surgery if the cancer is larger or has spread to the lymph nodes. In this way, chemotherapy may kill any cancer cells that remain in the body and help reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. It might also be used before an operation to shrink a large cancer so that it's easier to remove with surgery.
Chemotherapy can also be used to relieve symptoms of colon cancer that can't be removed with surgery or that has spread to other areas of the body. Sometimes it's combined with radiation therapy.
3. Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses powerful energy sources, such as X-rays and protons, to kill cancer cells. It might be used to shrink a large cancer before an operation so that it can be removed more easily. But when surgery isn't an option, radiation therapy might be used to relieve symptoms, such as pain. Sometimes radiation is combined with chemotherapy.
4. Targeted Drug Therapy: Targeted drug treatments focus on specific abnormalities present within cancer cells. By blocking these abnormalities, targeted drug treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Targeted drugs are usually combined with chemotherapy. Targeted drugs are typically reserved for people with advanced colon cancer.
5. Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy is a drug treatment that uses the immune system to fight cancer. The body's disease-fighting immune system may not attack the cancer because the cancer cells produce proteins that blind the immune system cells from recognizing the cancer cells. Immunotherapy works by interfering with that process. It is usually reserved for advanced colon cancer.
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