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Is A Mass In Colon Always Cancer: What You Need To Know
About Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is a term for cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. These are parts of your large intestine, which helps digest food and remove waste. This type of cancer often begins as small growths called polyps. Not all polyps turn into cancer, but some can over time.
Risk factors include age, family history, certain genetic syndromes, diet high in red and processed meats, alcohol consumption, smoking and lack of physical activity among others. Symptoms can include changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation lasting more than a few days; blood in stools; constant tiredness; unexplained weight loss etc.
Screening tests are crucial to prevent colorectal cancer or detect it early when treatment is most effective. Regular screenings begin at 50 years for most people, but may start earlier if you have higher risk factors.
Treatment options vary depending on the stage of the disease and can consist of surgery (used mostly), radiation therapy or chemotherapy amongst others.
Remember: when found early enough through screening tests before symptoms develop - colorectal cancer is highly treatable.
Anatomy of Colon and Rectum
The colon and therectum form part of your digestive system. They are essential for waste removal. The colon, also known as the large intestine, is a five to six feet long tube-like organ. It starts at the end of the small intestine and ends with the rectum.
Your colon consists of four main parts: ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, and sigmoid colon. The ascending one rises on your right side. Then crosses over to left side as transverse one. Next it descends down your left side as descending one before curving in S shape forming sigmoid one.
The rectum, about 6 inches long, connects the sigmoid to the anal canal leading outside the body. Its job? Store feces until you're ready for a bowel movement! Understanding these facts helps make sense of medical procedures like colonic or rectal surgeries.
Types of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer refers to cancers that start in the colon or rectum. Adenocarcinomas make up about 95% of colorectal cancers. These are cancers of cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum.
There are also less common types of colorectal cancer. They include carcinoid tumors, which originate from hormone-producing cells in the intestine. There's also gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), rare tumors starting from specialized cells in the wall of the colon called interstitial cells.
Lastly, we have lymphomas, cancers originating from immune system cells within walls of intestines or other parts of body. Then there're sarcomas, arising from blood vessels, muscle layers or connective tissues within the wall of the colon and rectum.
Knowledge is power! Understanding these types equips you better for conversations with your healthcare provider.
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Understanding Precancerous Polyps
Precancerous polyps are abnormal growths in the lining of your colon. They start as small, benign lumps but may become cancerous over time. Their size and shape can vary. Some look like a mushroom with a stalk. Others are flat or recessed into the wall of the colon.
You feel no pain from these polyps usually. Most people don't even know they have them until a routine screening test shows up positive for blood in their stool samples, known as Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT). Doctors also find polyps during colonoscopies.
Doctors classify precancerous polyps into two main types: adenomatous and serrated. Adenomatous is more common but both can turn into colorectal cancer if not removed early on.
Importantly, not all polyps develop into cancer. The chance depends on factors such as type, size and how many there are. Regular screenings help detect these growths early before they become malignant tumors leading to better outcomes for patients overall.
Remember that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Identifying Flat Colon Polyps
Flat colon polyps are growths that appear in your colon. They lie flat against the wall of your colon. This makes them harder to spot during a regular screening.
Doctors use a procedure called a colonoscopy to identify these polyps. During this test, they insert a tube into your rectum. The tube has a camera attached at one end. It gives doctors an inside view of your entire colon.
You can also take stool tests for early detection of polyps. These tests look for blood or DNA changes in stool samples.
Always consult with your healthcare provider if you have concerns about flat polyps or other health issues related to the colon.
Role of Large Intestine
The large intestine plays an essential role in your body's digestive system. It focuses on the absorption of water, electrolytes, and some vitamins produced by enteric bacteria. Enteric bacteria are good bacteria living in your gut. They assist with digestion.
Food particles that cannot be digested move from the small intestine to the large intestine. Here, they transform into stool through a process called peristalsis - a series of muscle contractions moving these particles along.
The large intestine is also home to trillions of microbes collectively known as the gut microbiota. These micro-organisms play critical roles too! They help metabolize undigested nutrients, synthesize certain vitamins like vitamin K and B-complex vitamins, strengthen your immune system and protect against harmful pathogens.
In short, while it may seem less glamorous than other organs like the heart or brain, without a properly functioning large intestine our bodies wouldn't retain necessary hydration or absorb important nutrients effectively.