Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal Cancer
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Introduction
According to Bagai (2007), colorectal cancer is the ranked third among the most diagnosed cancers and second among the leading cause of deaths related to cancer in the United States. According to Bagai, there are numerous evidence that supports screening for the colorectal cancer in aneffort to reduce the increasing mortality rates from colorectal cancer. This research paper reviews the state of colorectal cancer. It addresses the cost-benefit case for the disease, prevention, medication, management and technologies used in the treatment of colorectal cancer. This research should help in detection, prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer.
Literature Review
Colorectal cancer develops in the human digestive tract affecting the colon, rectum and appendix. This type of cancer may start developing in the colon or rectum. According to the American Cancer Society (2013), it is referred to as colorectal cancer because of the many similarities between the colon and rectal cancers. Colorectal cancer develops slowly over time before abnormal growths are detected in the colon or rectum. Before the colorectal cancer develops, an abnormal tissue or tumor begins as a polyp on the inner lining of the rectum or colon. This polyp begins as non-cancerous before developing into carcinoid tumor. Adenomatous polyps or adenomas can change into cancer hence called pre-cancerous condition. Other types of polyps include inflammatory and hyperplastic polyps that are not pre-cancerous, but may increase the chances for adenomas polyps that cause cancer. Another precancerous condition is dysplasia associated with ulcerative colitis patients. Dysplasia cells are inflammatory and may develop into cancer.
Colorectal cancer grows into the wall of rectum or colon and spread through blood vessels and lymph systems. Once in the lymph vessels or blood vessels, the cancer cells travel to lymph nodes or to otherbody parts including the liver. According to the American Cancer Society, these cancer cells spread to other parts of the human body, a process known as known as metastasis.
There are different types of colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, the most common ones are adenocarcinomas, carcinoid, gastrointestinal, lymphomas and sarcomas tumors. Adenocarcinomas tumors accounts for over 95% of colorectal cancers. It is this level of significance that this research focus on adenocarcinomas tumor alone. This type of cancer develops of the mucus-producing cells of the rectum or colon.
Statistics on colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer is the ranked third among the most diagnosed cancers and second among the major causes of deaths associated with cancer in the United States, Bagai (2007). According to the American Cancer Society, about 90,000 and 40,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer respectively occurs every year in the United States. About 5 percent of the women and men are at risk of colorectal cancer with the risk being slightly more in men than women are. An average of 100,000 people dies from colorectal cancer each year with the rate decreasing every year. The decreasing rate of deaths is directly attributed to regular screening for polyps before they develop into cancer, Pig none (2002). Screening also allows detection of the disease at early stage. Colorectal cancer at early stage is easy to cure. In addition, treatment of colorectal cancer has improved over the last two decades. There are more than 1 million survivors who have been diagnosed with cholesterol cancer in the United States, American Cancer Society.
Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms
Detection of early signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer can help prevent the occurrence of the disease. The following are some of possible symptoms for colorectal cancer:
* A change in bowel habits characterized by diarrhea, narrowing of the stool and constipation over time.
* Bowel movements that are not relieved even after doing so
* Bleeding in the rectum characterized by dark stool or blood in the stool
* Cramping of the abdomen or belly pain
* Fatigue and general body weakness
* Unplanned weight loss
These symptoms are not only evident in colorectal cancer cases. According to the American Cancer Society, the same signs are apparent in infections such as hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel and irritable bowel disease. It is important to go for screening before concluding that one has colorectal cancer.
Who are at Risk of contracting colorectal disease?
There are various conditions that may risk a person’s exposure to colorectal cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer and the American Cancer Societyhave identified the following factors as risks for colorectal cancer.
1 Gender
Men have high risk for colorectal cancer than women.
2 Race
African American group has the highest incidence of colorectal cancer and mortality rates in the United States because of what possible gene mutations.
A family history of colorectal cancer
Certain types of colorectal cancer tumor can be inherited depending on their genetic conditions. Cancer can run in the family because of such reasons as acquired genes, environmental factors, or both.
Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease
3 Diabetes
People with diabetes type 2 are at risk of colorectal cancer because of such factors as excessive weight. Diabetic people have a less favorable prognosis after treatment.
4 Overweight or obese
The risk on having colorectal cancer is high in overweight and obese people in both men and women but more on men.
5 Physical inactivity
People who are physically inactive have a high chance of having colorectal cancer. It is, therefore, advisable to increase the level of physical activity and excise. T
6 Tobacco use
Smoking increases a person’s chances of developing colorectal cancer because it is linked with other types of cancers like colorectal cancer.
7 Alcohol consumption
Heavy alcohol users have less folic acid in their body hence at risk of colorectal cancer.
8 Diet
Certain kind of diet such as red and processed meat increases chances of colorectal cancer. Cooking meat at very high temperatures may create some chemicals associated with cancer. Consuming adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables may help reduce this risk.
Colorectal cancer diagnosis
It is difficult to find colorectal cancer immediately after signs start to appear. Serious symptoms only appear in the advanced stages of the diseases. This situation calls for screening for the cancer. Screening involves trying to find evidence for polyps.
The Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (2001), recommends that a person be screened for the risk of colorectal cancer ones or twice in every year. The screening should be done by means of fecal occult blood testing, or sigmoidoscopy in every five years. The taskforce does not overrule the inclusion of colonoscopy screening from periodic medical examinations.
According to the American Cancer Association, doctor may perform a series of medical examinations for colorectal cancer. One of such tests i...