Colorectal cancer: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

The origin of colon cancer is typically in the colon or rectum. Depending on where they start, these tumours may be called colon or rectal cancer. Colon and rectal cancers are classified together due to their similarities. Cancer begins when cells in the body grow out of control. It usually affects the elderly but can occur at any age. It usually starts as small clumps of non-cancerous (benign) cells called polyps that form in the colon. At the same time, some polyps can turn into cancer.

Causes of Colorectal Cancer

Genetic disorders are one of the causes of colorectal cancer. Mutations or changes in certain genes cause many colon cancers. Knowing cancer risk and family history can help a person avoid cancer. In addition, a doctor can recommend when and how often to start checking for signs of cancer. Screening and a healthy lifestyle make cancer more preventable.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

• Diarrhoea or constipation
• Weakness and fatigue
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Changes in stool consistency, such as narrow stools, loose
• Iron deficiency anaemia
• Abdominal pain, bloating or gas, cramping
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Bright red bleeding from the rectum

In the advanced stages of the disease, patients may experience abdominal pain and unintended weight loss. In addition, if cancer metastasises to the part of the body, additional symptoms may manifest.

Risk Factors of Colorectal Cancer

Risk factors are characteristics or behaviours that increase your likelihood of developing colon cancer. However, having one factor does not guarantee the risk of having the disease. Conversely, people without any risk factors can develop colon cancer.

Factors that may elevate the likelihood of colon cancer include age over 45; other risk factors are:

• Smoking cigarettes
• Drinking alcohol every day
• Being overweight
• Lacking regular exercise

Types of Colorectal Cancer

• Adenocarcinoma: This is the most prevalent and originates from epithelial cells in the colon orf the rectum, and this which can grow into a tumour.
• Carcinoids: These tumours start in hormone-producing cells in the large intestine and may not cause symptoms.
• Familial Colorectal Cancer (FCC): This type of colon cancer affects people with a family history of colon cancer, and while it may be inherited, there is no known genetic condition.
• Gastrointestinal Stromal TumoursTumors (GIST): These tumours start in the muscle tissue of the large intestine, typically as noncancerous tumours that may later turn cancerous.
• Lymphoma: This type of colon cancer starts in lymph nodes, which are structures that are part of the immune system.

Individuals with a family history of these conditions or other types of colon cancer are classified as having hereditary coronary cancer. Types of hereditary are:

• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP): This hereditary condition causes the development of hundreds of polyps in the colon and rectum, which may become cancerous over time.
• Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer (HNPCC): Also known as Lynch syndrome, this condition increases the risk of developing various cancers, including colorectal cancer.

Early Stages

No symptoms can be observed in Colon cancer in the earliest stages, but symptoms become more noticeable as the disease progresses.

• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue and weakness
• Nausea and vomiting
• The feeling of not emptying the bowels
• Unexplained weight loss

Symptoms in males and females

Symptoms may appear the same in both males and females. In addition, women people who are menstruating have anaemia from colon cancer.

Stages of Colon Cancer

• Stage 0- At this stage, also called carcinoma in situ, abnormal cells are only found in the lining of the colon or rectum.
• Stage 1- Cancer has invaded the lining or mucous membrane of the colon or rectum and can grow into muscle tissue. It has not spread to nearby cancer cells or elsewhere in the body.

Symptoms:

• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Bleeding from rectum etc.

Stage 2. Cancer has spread to the wall of the colon or rectum or nearby tissues but has not affected lymph nodes.

Symptoms:

• Abdominal pain
• Excessive gas
• Abdominal Cramps
• Excessive gas
• Blood in stool

Stage 3. Cancer starts spreading to nearby lymph nodes but not to other body regions.

Symptoms:

• Unintentional weight loss
• Excessive fatigue
• Feeling that your bowl won't be empty

Stage 4- In this stage, cancer spreads to other organs, such as the liver or lungs.

Symptoms:

• Jaundice
• Swollen hands and feet
• Blurry vision
• Bone fracture

Diagnosis Test for Colorectal Cancer

• Biopsy
• Blood Count
• Colonoscopy
• Digital rectal exam
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Feco immunochemical test

If a sign of colorectal is observed, then you will be prescribed the right treatment. 

Treatment options for colorectal cancer

The treatment options for colon cancer may vary depending on the cancer stage and other factors.

Surgery

• Early-stage colon cancer: Early cancer: In the early stages of cancer, surgeons can often remove cancer cells with surgery. Suppose the polyp is not connected to the wall of the bowel.
• Advanced-stage colon cancer: If cancer has spread and invaded the bowel walls, the surgeon may remove segments of the colon or rectum along with the neighbouring lymph nodes
• Reattaching the colon: If possible, the surgeon may perform reattachment surgery to connect the healthy portion of the colon to the rectum.
• Colostomy: If reattaching the colon is impossible, the surgeon may perform a colostomy. This includes an opening in the abdominal wall for the removal of waste.

Chemotherapy

The use of drugs to eliminate cancerous cells is the basis of chemotherapy. It's often used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancerous cells and reduce the risk of recurrence. For example, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are combined as a treatment approach for colon cancer, which uses high-energy radiation to reduce the size of the tumour before surgery or to address cancer that has spread to other parts.

The drugs employed in Chemotherapy for colon cancer treatment include

• Irinotecan
• Oxaliplatin
• Capecitabine
• Fluorouracil

Radiation

Radiation therapy uses powerful radiation, such as X-rays, to target and destroy cancer cells before and after surgery. It is common for radiation therapy to be administered concurrently with chemotherapy.

Other Medications

These medications can treat last-stage colon cancer that doesn't respond to other types of treatment.

• Bevacizumab (Avastin)
• Ramucirumab (Cyramza)
• Nivolumab (Opdivo)
• Panitumumab (Vectibix)
• Ipilimumab (Yervoy)
• Pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
• Ziv- aflibercept

Are you looking forward to getting the best colorectal cancer treatment in India? Get in touch with Adotrip, the best medical tourism platform for transportation, accommodation, and the best treatment for the disease. 

FAQs about Colorectal cancer

Ques. What is Polyp?
Ans. Growth arises from an irregular or disordered division and multiplication of cells that line the colon.

Ques. Is Colorectal Cancer curable?
Ans. It is a treatable and often curable disease when confined to the colon or rectum.

Ques. What are the different types of screening options for detecting colorectal cancer?
Ans. There are several screening options, such as:

• Faecal occult blood test (FOBT)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Double-contrast barium enema

Ques. Can colorectal cancer be prevented?
Ans. Although it is impossible to prevent colorectal cancer completely, adopting a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy diet and weight, regular exercise, limiting alcohol, and quitting smoking, can lower the risk. Screening for colorectal cancer is also important for early detection.

Ques. What is the survival rate for colorectal cancer?
Ans. Various factors, such as the stage of cancer at diagnosis and the patient's overall health, determine the survival rate for colorectal cancer

Ques. How can I manage the side effects of treatment and maintain my quality of life during treatment?
Ans. Steps you can take to help Manage the side effects of treatment and to maintain your quality of life during colorectal cancer treatment

• Communicate with your healthcare team
• Stay hydrated
• Eat a healthy diet
• Exercise