Colon Cancer: The Facts We Need to Know

Types of Colon Cancer

Adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma is the most common type of colon cancer. In this type, the cells that make up the colon’s lining are abnormal.

Carcinoid Tumors

Carcinoid tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They’re made up of cells that aid in hormone production and can form in several parts of the body, including the colon.

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors are more common in other parts of the digestive system, but they can form in the colon. They’re believed to arise from specialized cells called interstitial cells of Cajal, which have several functions in the digestive system.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that starts in infection-fighting cells called lymphocytes. It usually starts in the lymph nodes, but it can also start in the colon.

Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

We’re not sure what causes colon cancer, but it’s most common in older adults. Anyone can get colon cancer, but some people face a higher risk. Risk factors include:

• African-American race
• A family history of the disease
• Chronic inflammation of the colon because of a disease, like Crohn’s
• A diet that’s high in fat and low in fiber
• A sedentary lifestyle
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Smoking

Signs & Symptoms of Colon Cancer

The symptoms associated with colon cancer are also associated with many minor conditions. Even if you have all of the symptoms listed below, it’s unlikely you have cancer. If you’re worried, schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your symptoms. Signs of colon cancer include:

• Any change in bathroom habits - diarrhea, constipation, or going to the bathroom more or less often
• A lack of relief after going to the bathroom - feeling like you’re not able to clear your bowel
• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• Discomfort in the abdomen
• Weakness, fatigue, and general malaise (not feeling quite right)
• Unintentional or rapid weight loss

Diagnosis

Colon cancer is usually detected through a routine screening test called a colonoscopy. During a colonoscopy, a flexible tube with a camera at the end is inserted through the rectum, allowing a doctor to look at the inside of the colon. The doctor checks the colon for polyps, which look like lumps or knobs on the walls of the colon. If polyps are present, the doctor can remove them during the colonoscopy using a wire hoop. The walls of the colon are incredibly resilient and not sensitive to trauma, so there’s no need to repair the area where the polyp was removed from.

It’s best to remove all polyps, even if they’re not cancerous. Your doctor will take a biopsy of the polyp and have a lab check for cancerous cells.

Grading & Staging

Cancers are staged according to how far the cancer has spread and how large cancerous growths are. Colon cancer is staged from zero to four:

• Stage 0: The cancer is in a very early stage and sits on the inner surface of the colon.
• Stage 1: The cancer has penetrated mid-layer tissue, but it hasn’t spread to the lymph nodes or any other organs.
• Stage 2: The cancer has penetrated the outer layers of the colon, but hasn’t spread any further.
• Stage 3: The cancer has penetrated the outer layers of the colon, and it has spread to one, two, or three lymph nodes. No other organs are affected.
• Stage 4: The cancer has penetrated tissues outside the colon, and the cancer has (or will eventually) reach distant organs.

Treatments

Colon cancer can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.

Surgery for Colon Cancer

During a colectomy, all or part of the colon is removed. If a significant portion of the colon remains, the surgeon can create a new pathway by connecting the remaining parts. If too little or no colon remains after the colectomy, the doctor will place a stoma. Waste is redirected through a surgical opening that connects to a discrete, disposable bag.

If the cancer is low-stage and localized, the doctor may be able to remove it during an endoscopy. An endoscopy is a lot like a colonoscopy, but the tube is inserted through the mouth. The endoscope is equipped with a device that can detach tumors, and the tumor is removed from the body through the tube.

Laparoscopic surgery is an option for larger growths that haven’t spread through a significant portion of the colon. This surgery requires a small incision in the abdomen.

Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy for Colon Cancer

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy use different methods to achieve the same result - the death of abnormal cancer cells. These therapies may be used before surgery to shrink growths for easier removal, or they may be used after surgery to reduce the likelihood of the cancer coming back.

When surgery isn’t an option, radiation therapy and chemotherapy can improve symptoms.

Outlook

Colon cancer is typically diagnosed early, thanks to screening initiatives. When it’s diagnosed early, the 5-year survival rate is 90%. Patients with later-stage cancer whose tumors are few and removable are likely to survive for five or more years. The overall 5-year survival rate for people with colon cancer is 64%.

When it comes to cancer, the earlier you get a diagnosis, the better your prognosis. People who learn they have colon cancer early, through screening, can often live long, relatively normal lives.

 

*All information acquired from the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the American Cancer Society.