Colon cancer

arge intestine - is the final section of the digestive tract length of 1.5-2 meters. It consists of the cecum with the appendix, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon and rectum.
Colon cancer - a malignant tumor that grows in the mucous membrane lining the walls of the colon. In most cases, the tumor is located in the sigmoid, blind or rectum.
Bowel cancer is most common in the elderly. And every year these patients is becoming more and more, especially in developed countries with high living standards.Causes
The emergence of colon cancer is facilitated by:

•     the nature of power - the dominance of the diet of meat, fat and flour dishes, inadequate maintenance of plant products;
•     violation of stool (constipation);
•     colon diseases: colitis and polyps (cancer risk begins to increase after 7 years of onset, and every subsequent 10 years increased by 10% after 25 years reaching 30%);
•     genetic predisposition;
•     old age.

What's happening?
When excess in animal fat and protein in the food material produced in the intestines, promoting the development of a tumor (a carcinogen). At locks the exposure of these compounds on colon wall is significantly increased which may lead to the degeneration of normal cells into cancer cells.
Malignant tumors may also arise with prolonged ongoing inflammatory diseases in the intestines (colitis), and transform from polyps (benign outgrowths on the intestinal mucosa).
Ready cancer cells begin to multiply rapidly. The swelling gradually increases in size and eventually fills a lumen. As a result of developing intestinal obstruction. If the tumor invades the intestinal wall, it can destroy its vessels and cause intestinal bleeding.
In the later stages of the disease the tumor spreads beyond the colon: invades the intestinal wall and embedded in the surrounding organs; together with the current lymph enters the lymph nodes, and hits them; It is stored together with the blood to distant organs (liver, lungs, bones and brain), and forms new tumor (metastases) there. In the absence of the effect of treatment comes death.What are the symptoms?
In the early stages of colon cancer usually does not manifest itself. Only when the tumor becomes large, there is a whole bunch of unpleasant symptoms:

•     abdominal pain (long, dull, aching);
•     constipation;
•     bloating and rumbling in the stomach;
•     blood in the stool;
•     poor appetite,
•     pallor;
•     weakness, and weakness;
•     temperature rise;
•     weight loss.

Diagnostics
Any tumor is easier to treat, as it is small. That is why it is important to take preventive examination by a doctor, a gastroenterologist, which includes fecal occult blood. After 40 years of prophylactic medical examination must be held every three years, and to take the fecal occult blood test every year.
In some cases, can be assigned to the following procedures:

    Irrigoscopy - x-ray of his intestines with pre-filled contrast agent using an enema;
    Sigmoidoscopy - examination of the bowel (up to 30 cm) with a special device (sigmoidoscopy) introduced into the anus;
    Colonoscopy - a study similar to sigmoidoscopy, only to examine most of the bowel (up to one meter).
    During a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy, the doctor may do a biopsy - taking a small piece of the intestinal mucosa for detailed examination under a microscope. This procedure is almost painless. Biopsy is particularly necessary for patients who have intestinal polyps.
Treatment
The main treatment for colon cancer is surgery. In addition to the operations used radiotherapy, and chemotherapy.
Type of operation depends on the location of the tumor and its size. If the tumor is small and "conveniently located", it is removed entirely, while maintaining the normal functioning of the intestine. At large tumor sizes, as well as some of its specific location operation finishes creation of an artificial outlet ulcer - colostomy, which is displayed on the patient's abdomen.
In some cases, surgical treatment is carried out in two stages: first part of the colon is removed and form a colostomy, a few months later restore the normal functioning of the intestine.
Prognosis depends on the size of the tumor and timely surgical treatment. The smaller the size of the tumor, the more likely a complete cure of the disease.Prevention
For the prevention of colon cancer is necessary:

•     include a diet of more fruits and vegetables;
•     fight constipation;
•     promptly treat inflammatory bowel disease (colitis);
•     important time to remove colon polyps.