Colon cancer is typically slow-growing, starting as a benign polyp that eventually becomes malignant. This process may occur over many years without producing any symptoms. Once colon cancer has developed, it may still be years before it is detected.
Colon cancer, or cancer that begins in the lower part of the digestive tract, usually forms from a collection of benign (noncancerous) cells called an adenomatous polyp. Most of these polyps will not become malignant (cancerous), but some can slowly turn into cancer over the course of about 10-15 years.
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stools (faeces), a change in bowel habit, such as more frequent, looser stools, and abdominal (tummy) pain. However, these symptoms are very common.
The results showed the median survival of patients to be 24 months (range 16–42). One-year survival was found to be 65% while the 2-year survival was found to be 25%.
In most cases, colon and rectal cancers grow slowly over many years. Most of those cancers start as a growth called a polyp. Taking out a polyp early may keep it from turning into cancer.
Bowel cancer generally does not spread quickly. Any small growths or polyps in your bowel wall may take several years to become cancerous.
The development of bowel cancer generally takes many years. It usually begins in the lining of the colon or rectum. If untreated, bowel cancer can grow deeper into the wall of the bowel. From there, it can spread to lymph nodes in the area.
Many people with colon cancer don't have symptoms. That's why it is so important to keep up with routine screening tests. When the disease -- at any stage -- causes symptoms, they may include: Blood (usually dark red or black) in the stool.
Stage 4 Cancer Symptoms
The symptoms of metastatic cancer depend on the type of cancer and, more importantly, where the metastases have occurred.1 In some cases, there are no symptoms at all, so it's possible to have stage 4 cancer and not know it.
Colorectal cancer symptoms may be minor or non-existent during the early stages of the disease, although there may be some early warning signs. The symptoms of colorectal cancer may not develop until the disease has progressed into stage 2 or beyond.
Signs and symptoms of colon cancer include: A persistent change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool. Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool. Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain.
Possible symptoms of bowel cancer
a lump that your doctor can feel in your back passage or tummy (abdomen), more commonly on the right side. a feeling of needing to strain in your back passage (as if you need to poo), even after opening your bowels. losing weight. pain in your abdomen or back passage.
Blood tests can help to diagnose bowel cancer.
Lung and bronchus cancer is responsible for the most deaths with 127,070 people expected to die from this disease. That is nearly three times the 52,550 deaths due to colorectal cancer, which is the second most common cause of cancer death. Pancreatic cancer is the third deadliest cancer, causing 50,550 deaths.
Among 126,851 patients who underwent colonoscopies, 2,659 were diagnosed with colorectal cancer; 6% of these colorectal cancers were found to have developed within 6 to 60 months after a colonoscopy.
Cancer of the colon is a highly treatable and often curable disease when localized to the bowel. Surgery is the primary form of treatment and results in cure in approximately 50% of patients. However, recurrence following surgery is a major problem and is often the ultimate cause of death.
Most colorectal cancers start as a growth on the inner lining of the colon or rectum. These growths are called polyps.
The most common site of metastases for colorectal cancer, which includes colon cancer or rectal cancer is the liver. Colorectal cancer cells may also spread to the lungs, bones, brain or spinal cord.
Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away. In fact, many of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can also be caused by other problems, such as infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease. It's important to get checked if you have any of following problems.
The main test for bowel cancer is a colonoscopy. This is where a thin, flexible, tube with a camera is used to look inside your bowel. It may be uncomfortable but it should not be painful. You'll be offered a sedative and painkillers to help make you feel more comfortable.
being overweight or obese. alcohol consumption. smoking tobacco. inherited genetic risk and family history.
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 26 for women. However, each person's risk might be higher or lower than this, depending on their risk factors for colorectal cancer.
Currently, three types of stool tests are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to screen for colorectal cancer: guaiac FOBT (gFOBT); the fecal immunochemical (or immunohistochemical) test (FIT, also known as iFOBT); and multitargeted stool DNA testing (also known as FIT-DNA).