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$Unique_ID{BRK03554}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Cancer, Colon}
$Subject{Cancer Colon Cancer of the Large Intestine Cancer of the Colon
Colonic Cancer Colorectal Cancer Carcinoma of the Colon Adenocarcinoma of the
Colon Diverticulitis Ulcerative Colitis Benign Lesions or Tumors of the Colon}
$Volume{}
$Log{}
Copyright (C) 1990 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc.
808:
Cancer, Colon
** IMPORTANT **
It is possible that the main title of the article (Colon Cancer) is not
the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYM listing to find the
alternate names and disorder subdivisions covered by this article.
Synonyms
Cancer of the Large Intestine
Cancer of the Colon
Colonic Cancer
Colorectal Cancer
Carcinoma of the Colon
Adenocarcinoma of the Colon
Information on the following disorders can be found in the Related
Disorders section of this report:
Diverticulitis
Ulcerative Colitis
Benign Lesions or Tumors of the Colon
General Discussion
** REMINDER **
The information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for
educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment
purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please
contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources"
section of this report.
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers found in the United
States. The cause is unknown. It may be related to a high-fat low-fiber
diet. In some people, the tendency to develop colon cancer may be inherited.
Cancer is a disease in which abnormal cell development occurs, causing
destruction of healthy cells. Symptoms of colon cancer may include changes
in the shape or color of stools, blood in the stools, constipation and/or
diarrhea, abdominal discomfort and sometimes nausea. Surgery is generally
performed to correct this type of cancer, usually along with radiation and/or
chemotherapy.
Symptoms
The colon is part of the large intestines. Symptoms of colon cancer may
include changes in the shape of stools such as a thin or flattened
appearance. Blood may be present in the stool although it may not be visible
to the patient. Hard, nodular masses with irregular borders develop into a
malignant tumor (such as an adenocarcinoma) which, in some patients, may be
detected during a rectal exam.
When cancer forms in the right side of the colon, the tumor may become
large and ulcerate, causing blood loss which may lead to anemia. The stool
may have a reddish-maroon color. Some patients may have pain and trapped gas
in the lower right area of the abdomen. Gently pressing or massaging the
area may relieve the gas. Small bowel obstruction may also occur.
When cancer forms in the left side of the colon, obstruction within the
intestine causes constipation and cramping pain in the abdomen. Bleeding can
also occur and may be visible in the stool.
In advanced stages of the disease, loss of appetite and weight loss tend
to occur. There is pain in the abdomen from the obstruction in the
intestine. If the disease spreads, cancer may travel (metastasize) to the
lymph glands, other areas of the abdomen, or liver via the lymphatic system
or bloodstream. In some patients, the cancer may travel to the lung or bone.
Potential colon cancer can be discovered by a rectal exam, or examination
of the abdomen. Other screening methods are the sigmoidoscope or colonoscope
(lighted instruments which allow the physician to see inside the patient's
large intestine) and laboratory examination of the patient's stool for occult
(hidden) blood.
Diagnosis is made by radiography (barium enema x-ray and other imaging
techniques) and endoscopy (a sigmoidoscope or colonoscope). When a
colonoscope is too large to fit into narrow obstructed passage, a cytology
brush can be used to obtain cells to test for cancer. Biopsy is made to
confirm malignancy.
Causes
Like most forms of cancer, the exact cause of colon cancer is not known. It
may be related to a high-fat low-fiber diet, although this has not been
scientifically proven. In some people, the tendency to develop colon cancer
may be inherited. People who have inflammatory bowel disease such as
ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or patients with benign (noncancerous)
intestinal tumors (adenomas, polyps) may have a higher risk of developing
colon cancer as well. Surgical removal of adenomas and polyps aids in the
prevention of colon cancer. Other people at risk of developing colon cancer
are those who have hereditary polyposis syndromes (multiple polyps covering
the colon and rectum) such as familial polyposis, Gardner's syndrome, other
colon syndromes such as Turcot, Oldfield's, or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome. (For
more information on these disorders, choose "polyposis", "Gardner", "and
"Peutz" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database).
Affected Population
Colon cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. It affects men and
women equally, usually occurring after the age of 40. It is often diagnosed
in patients around the age of 65. People with colon cancer in their family
are at higher than normal risk of developing this disorder.
Related Disorders
Diverticulitis is a common disease of the bowel. It may mimic colon cancer
by causing an obstruction, especially in the sigmoid colon (area of the colon
near the rectum), by an inflammatory mass. Ulcerative colitis and benign
(noncancerous) lesions or tumors of the colon may also be confused with
colon cancer.
Therapies: Standard
Treatment of colon cancer varies from patient to patient. It is important to
determine how far the disease has spread since this determines the
appropriate treatment program. First, physicians determine what "stage" the
disease is in. The stage depends on the number and location of malignant
sites, and if it has traveled to other parts of the body.
Surgery is generally performed to treat colon cancer, usually along with
radiation therapy (radiotherapy). A colectomy is surgery to remove part or
all of the large intestine. If necessary, a colostomy (or ileostomy) is
done. A colostomy is surgery to create an artificial anus. Sometimes a
temporary colostomy quickens the recovery of a patient who had only a section
of the large intestine removed. Radiation therapy destroys cancer cells,
shrinks enlarged lymph nodes, and aids in prevention of further cancer.
For some patients, chemotherapy may be used. Chemotherapy involves the
use of "anticancer" drugs. All these drugs may produce adverse side effects
and must be carefully monitored by a doctor. The drug 5-flourouracil is
often used to treat colon cancer patients alone or in combination with other
drugs.
Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Therapies: Investigational
The National Cancer Institute conducts clinical trials on new drugs being
tested for colon cancer and other forms of cancer. To learn about locations
of these investigations, contact the Cancer Information Service listed in the
Resources section of this report.
This disease entry is based upon medical information available through
August 1990. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep
every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate.
Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most
current information about this disorder.
Resources
For more information on Colon Cancer, please contact:
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783
(203) 746-6518
American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Rd., NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
(404) 320-3333
NIH/National Cancer Institute
9000 Rockville Pike, Bldg. 31, Rm. 1A2A
Bethesda, MD 20892
1-800-4-CANCER
The National Cancer Institute has developed PDQ (Physician Data Query), a
computerized database designed to give the public, cancer patients and
families, and health professionals quick and easy access to many types of
information vital to patients with this and many other types of cancer. To
gain access to this service, call:
Cancer Information Service (CIS)
1-800-4-CANCER
In Washington, DC and suburbs in Maryland and Virginia, 636-5700
In Alaska, 1-800-638-6070
In Oahu, Hawaii, (808) 524-1234 (Neighbor islands call collect)
References
INTERNAL MEDICINE, 2nd Ed.: Jay H. Stein, ed.-in-chief; Little, Brown and
Co., 1987. Pp. 160-164.
WORLD BOOK MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA: Erich E. Brueschke, M.D., et al., eds;
World Book, Inc., 1988. Pp. 147-148.