Here at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay, one of the most common conditions we treat patients for is colorectal cancer or colon cancer. In this post, we’ll take a look at what colorectal cancer is, the symptoms of colorectal cancer, the causes of colorectal cancer, the early signs of colon cancer, and answer some common patient questions: how do you detect colorectal cancer, how is colon cancer treated, and what is the prognosis for colon cancer?
1. What Colorectal Cancer Is
Like all cancers, colorectal cancer is a progressive disease that starts in one type of tissue (this is how it’s classified and named) with a single mutated cell and proceeds to invade others as it spreads and grows larger. Colorectal cancer starts in the colon or rectum, also known as the large intestine. As colorectal cancer grows and spreads, it may enter the lymphatic system (the immune system’s transportation system) and spread throughout the whole body. This process is called metastasis.
There are five stages of colorectal cancer, and each is slightly different than the previous, having its own distinctions and characteristics. When a patient is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, many tests will be performed to determine the specific staging; the stage will help the oncologist and colorectal specialist determine a course of treatment.
2. The Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
Unfortunately, many patients do not experience any symptoms of colorectal cancer until the disease has progressed to later stages and cancer has invaded other organs. While the early signs of colon cancer are not serious or extremely uncomfortable, it is highly important to be able to recognize them; recognizing the early signs of colon cancer and seeking a diagnosis could save your life.
The early signs of colon cancer
Patients with early stages of colon cancer may experience symptoms like bloody stools, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, unexplainable weight loss, bloating, and abdominal pain. Now, if you’re looking at this list of symptoms and thinking “those are pretty common symptoms,” you’re absolutely right. The early signs of colon cancer often go unnoticed; however, when experienced together, these symptoms can warn individuals of a serious condition.
3. Causes of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is caused by a mutation in a single cell that lines the colon or rectum (the large intestine). Several factors may increase a patient’s cancer risk, including family history, hereditary conditions like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), smoking, heavy alcohol use, consuming high amounts of processed meats, being overweight or obese, being over the age of 50, and having a sedentary lifestyle.
4. Detecting and Diagnosing Colon Cancer
How do you detect colorectal cancer? Colon cancer is best detected with a procedure called a colonoscopy. This is an outpatient procedure that usually involves sedation. Colonoscopies are scheduled early in the morning and into the afternoon so that a patient does not have to stay overnight at the hospital or clinic where the scoping procedure is being performed. For an in-depth look at what to expect from and how to prepare for your colonoscopy, check out this post: Colonoscopy Prep: How to Get Ready for Your Exam. For more information about the different types of colon cancer screening, take a look at this post: Understanding Your Colorectal Cancer Screening Options.
In order to officially diagnose colon cancer (a colonoscopy will only detect a polyp or mass), your scoping doctor will take a biopsy or a sample of the mass and send it to pathology. There, lab technicians will view the mass’s cells under a microscope and determine whether or not they are cancerous. If the cells are cancerous, you will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and further tests will be performed to help grade the stage of your cancer.
5. Colorectal Cancer Prognosis
Only your oncologist or colorectal specialist can help you determine the prognosis for your specific cancer. However, if you are looking for generalizations, Cancer.gov has some based on statistics. According to Cancer.gov, the 5-year survival rate for localized (hasn’t metastasized) colon cancer is 91% and rectal cancer is 89%. The 5-year survival rate for regional (has spread within the colorectal system) colon and rectal cancer is 72%. Finally, the 5-year survival rate for distant (has metastasized to distant areas of the body) colon cancer is 14% and rectal cancer is 16%. You can see, from these statistics, how important early detection truly is.
6. Treating Colorectal Cancer
Treatment for your colorectal cancer will depend on how progressed your mass is and whether it has spread or not. As mentioned above, treatments for localized and regional colorectal cancers are quite effective. Treatments include invasive procedures like excision (tumor or polyp removal) or bowel resection (removal of the diseased portion), and therapies like radiation oncology (using ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells) or chemotherapy (using injectible or ingestible drugs to kill cancer cells).
7. Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis & Treatment in Tampa Bay
If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, you’ll be faced with several weeks or months of tests and treatments. It can be helpful to have a local colorectal specialist that can help you with detection, diagnosis, and treatment. If you live in the Tampa Bay area, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of colorectal specialists at the Colorectal Clinic of Tampa Bay; we’re here to help you.