Day: April 19, 2023

Home Colon Cancer Abnormal cell division or mitosis leads to the formation of harmful lumps of tissue called tumours or neoplasms. There are two types of tumours or neoplasms; benign and malignant. Malignant tumours are fatal because they divide abnormally, spread and invade other parts of the human body, eventually leading to the person’s death.  What is colon cancer? The colon or large intestine is the portion of the human digestive tract where water is absorbed, and bacteria break down the rest of the substances, which are then moved to the rectum. The rectum holds the waste until it is pushed out through the anus, a process called defecation.  Colon cancer is a condition that affects the colon, where malignant tumours are found in the large intestine. Also known as colorectal cancer, it is a disease that is mostly seen in older adults.  Also read: Benign and malignant tumours Why is it essential to understand the distinction “>Where does colon cancer start?”> The colon or large intestine is divided into the following parts;  Ascending colon It is the part where the food from the small intestine comes in and continues upward on the right side of the person’s abdomen. Transverse colon It is the portion of the large intestine that goes across the body. Descending colon It is the portion of the large intestine that descends downwards on the left side. Sigmoid colon It is the “S” shaped structure that joins the rectum, which is then connected to the anus.  Proximal colon The ascending colon and transverse colon sections together are called the proximal colon. Distal colon The descending colon and sigmoid colon are called the distal colon. Colon cancer can affect any of the portions mentioned above. The peculiarity of this disease is that it usually begins as a small benign tumour called a polyp. However, the polyp is precancerous and should be treated to prevent possible malignancy.  Different types of polyps are as follows;  Adenomatous polyps or adenomas They are fasting-growing precancerous polyps. Depending on location, they are divided into tubular, villous, and tubulovillous. Hyperplastic polyps They are common and need not be precancerous but require screening to check for their malignancy. Sessile serrated polyps or SSP They are polyps with a high risk of developing into malignant tumours. Traditional serrated adenomas or TSA They can also develop into colorectal cancer if left untreated. “>What are the different types of colon cancer? “> Most colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas which begin in the cells that make mucous to lubricate the inner portions of the colon and rectum.  Carcinoid tumours These begin in the intestine’s hormone-making cells. Gastrointestinal stromal tumours or GISTs It begins in the interstitial cells of Cajal and can be either benign or malignant. Lymphomas They are generally described as cancers of the immune system and mostly start in the lymph nodes. Non- Hodgkin lymphoma is mostly found in the digestive tract. Sarcomas It is the type of cancer that begins in the blood vessels, muscle layers or other connective tissues in the colon or rectum. It is a rare type of cancer. Also read: A healthy lifestyle and early screening help us deal with hormone dependent cancer: Dr Sandip Bipte shares his expertise  “>What are the different stages of colon cancer? “> The staging of colon cancer depends on how much or how far cancer has grown or spread. The treatment plan is determined based on the stage of colon cancer.  The layers of the colon wall are as follows;  Mucosa or the inner lining is where nearly all colorectal cancers begin. The portion beneath the layer, which consists of fibrous tissue, is called the submucosa. Next to it consists of a thick muscle layer. Subserosa and serosa cover the outer portion of the colon (but not the rectum). Tumour is found in any of the layers.   The staging process is done based on the American Joint Committee on Cancer or AJCC TNM system. T or Tumour It depends on how far cancer has grown out of the colon or rectum. Tis refers to a state where the tumour is at it’s earliest stage. T1-T4 refers to the degree of the tumour’s growth.  N or lymph Node It checks whether the cancer tumour has spread to the nearby lymph nodes. N0 refers to the stage where the tumour has not grown into the lymph nodes. N1-N4 refers to how many lymph nodes it has affected.  M or Metastasis It depends on whether the tumour has spread to nearby organs or distant sites. M0 refers to the state where the tumour has not metastasised, whereas M1 means that it has metastasized.  “>”>Think you have colorectal cancer? Get a free consultation. Click here “>What are the different grades of colon cancer? “> Grading of the cancer tumour focuses on how much the tumour cells resemble normal cells under the microscope. There are three types of grades; Grade 1 or low grade The tumour cells resemble the normal cells. Grade 2 or intermediate grade The tumour cells resemble normal cells. Grade 3 or high grade Tumour cells are completely different from normal cells. The cancer treatment method is determined based on the staging and grading.  “>How is colon cancer diagnosed? “> Imaging methods like CT scans, Ultrasound, and body MRI can help determine the presence of colon cancer.  Commonly used tests for Colon cancer are listed as follows;  Colonoscopy The tumour cells resemble the normal cells. Sigmoidoscopy The tumour cells resemble normal cells. Barium enema Tumour cells are completely different from normal cells. Blood tests Tumour cells are completely different from normal cells. Biopsy It is the procedure that helps in determining whether the tumour is benign or malignant. The medical expert takes a sample of the tumour and checks its laboratory conditions.  Additional testing and screening procedures, like CT scans, or MRIs, are utilised to determine the extent of the tumour’s spread. Other methods include the Guaiac-based faecal occult blood test (gFOBT), CEA tumour marker, and Fecal immunochemical test (FIT),