Colon+Cancer


 * Colon Cancer**

General Information:

-This is when cancerous growths happens in your colon, appendix, or rectum - 3rd most common form of cancer -2nd leading cause of death in the western world -655,000 deats a year around the world -Chemotherapy and Surgury are the only ways to treat it

Symptoms:

-Constipation and Diarrhea -Rectal Bleeding - Bowel Obstruction -Reduction in diameter of fece -Weakness -Dizziness

Risk Factors:

-Lifitime risk is 7% of developing Colon Cancer in the United States - Risk of developing increases with age. Most cases occur between the ages of 60-70 -History of cancer -History of smoking - Alchol - People that drink more than 30 grams of alchol a day put them selves at higher risk for development of colon cancer - It has also been proven that if you drink one alcholic beverage a day it increases your chances of getting it to 70% - Drinking may lead to early onset of colon cancer - Best advice is to limit the amount of alchol that you drink

Diagnosis:

-Digital rectal exam- doctor insurts finger up the rectum and checks for large tumors - Blood Test - Colonoscopacy- probe is insurted up the rectum and into the colon to have a look around

Treatment:

-If the cancer is caught early enough then it is able to be cured - Surgury is primary treatment, because it has the highest sucess rate - Chemotherapy may also be reccomented




 * Sources:**

http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000262.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorectal_cancer http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cancer/DS00035