Colon Cancer in Utah
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Find a ProviderWhat is colon cancer?
Your colon is the last section of your GI system, where the body extracts fluid and salt from stool. Colorectal cancer takes place when malignant masses form in the colon. The cancer begins as harmless masses called polyps. Polyps are minor bunches of cells that can later transform into colon tumors.
Colon cancer is more common in older adults and is the second-leading general cancer detected in both men and women combined.
It is crucial to obtain a colonoscopy early in your life and then as instructed by your GI physician. To schedule a colon cancer screening, get in touch with a Utah Gastroenterology location in Salt Lake City, UT or a surrounding area.
What are the symptoms and risk factors of colorectal cancer?
Should you suffer from the initial indicators of colon and rectal cancer, correct care and quick treatment may help you have a more favorable outcome. If you are consistently encountering any of these symptoms, please make an appointment with a Utah GI doctor:
- Rectal bleeding
- Continual urges to have a bowel movement
- A quick change in bowel habits, including constipation, diarrhea, or an alteration in the consistency of your feces
- A feeling that your bowel does not clear fully
- Discomfort during bowel movements
- Lasting gut distress, like cramps, flatulence, or pain
- Any of this list coupled with weakness and exhaustion
Some of the components that may position an individual at greater risk for colon and rectal cancer are:
- Age: Colon cancer is mainly discovered in individuals over 50; despite that, the rates of colon and rectal cancer in young patients have been on the incline.
- Descent: Persons of the African-American race have an increased risk of colon cancer comparable to other races.
- Family history: If you or a relative has had colon and rectal cancer or colon polyps, you possess an increased danger of colorectal cancer.
- Inflammatory intestinal afflictions: Chronic conditions, such as Crohn's disease and colitis, can expand your risk of colon cancer.
- “Common Western Diet”: Colon cancer has been associated with a decreased fiber, high fat, and high-calorie way of eating.
Survival percentages for colon cancer
Cancer survival rates are broken into types and are dependent on the extent it has dispersed upon identification. Limited colon cancer is cancer that is simply in the colon. Regional colorectal cancer is when the disease spreads to the adjacent tissues and organs, and distant colon cancer occurs if the disease has spread to distant sections of the body.
- Localized colon cancer: 90% 5-year survival rate
- Regional colon cancer: 71% 5-year survival rate
- Distant colon cancer: 14% 5-year survival rate
If the disease is diagnosed quickly and purely presents in a few malignant tumors, then the polyps can be excised, resulting in extremely high rates of survival.
We recommend receiving a colonoscopy when you turn 45 years of age to identify cancer promptly. If colorectal cancer is in your family history, then we recommend obtaining a screening for colon cancer at Utah Gastroenterology even earlier.
What are the ready treatments for colon cancer?
Therapy for patients with colorectal cancer in the Riverton, Old Mill, Draper, UT areas can change based on the spread of the cancer. Each case is unique, but the foremost goal for colon cancer is to hinder it entirely.
Avoidance
Colorectal cancer is a different type of cancer since it is preventable. Colorectal cancer first appears in the form of tumors. These tumors can be removed, which diminishes your danger of dying of cancer by 90%. Your private danger and avoidance steps can be considered at a colorectal cancer screening with your GI physician.
Stage 0 Colon Cancer Treatment
Stage 0 colon cancer is when the colon cancer has not moved further than the interior lining of the colon. If the growth is small enough, it can quickly be withdrawn using a colonoscope while undergoing a colonoscopy.
Stage I Colon Cancer Treatment
If the tumor is thoroughly eliminated during a colonoscopy with no cancerous tissues at the rims, no further remedies may be required. If the removed growth does possess cancerous cells at the extremities, additional extraction might be needed to clear the residual cancerous cells. For cancers not in a growth, a partial colectomy might be required to remove the piece of the colon and neighboring lymph nodes that are cancerous.
Stage II Colon Cancer Treatment
Usually, in stage 2, surgery is carried out to remove the section of the colon or nearby lymph nodes holding the cancer. Occasionally, your physician will recommend adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo after surgery).
Stage III Colon Cancer Treatment
A partial colectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the conventional treatment approach for this type of colorectal cancer.
Stage IV Colon Cancer Treatment
This stage of cancer generally means that the disease has moved to other tissues or organs. Surgery may be needed to withdraw pieces of the cancer found in the colon and different organs, in addition to chemotherapy. Chemotherapy at this phase is typically administered before and after surgery.
Colon Cancer FAQs
What are the causes of colon cancer?
While the exact cause behind colorectal cancer is undetermined, it arises when cell mutation in the inner lining of the large intestine or rectum propagates beyond control, producing a growth or tumor. There are specific circumstances, however, that could elevate the risk of developing the disease. These involve lifestyle factors (such as using tobacco or drinking alcohol, lack of exercise, and poor nutritional habits) and having a genetic or hereditary predisposition.
How is colorectal cancer detected?
Colorectal cancer is usually identified and diagnosed when undergoing a screening for the disease. A colonoscopy exam is the most commonly performed, precise, and complete screening for finding colorectal cancer. Additional exams may also be conducted during a colon cancer screening, such as virtual colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal tests, and double-contrast barium enema. Your Utah Gastroenterology provider can advise you on the appropriate diagnosis and screening approach to address your needs.
How quickly does colon cancer grow?
Colon and rectal cancer tends to be slow-growing in most instances. It commonly begins as a benign growth or polyp in the colon or rectum that becomes malignant over time. Noticing symptoms with polyps is rare, which means that periodic colon cancer exams are critical to catching this disease as soon as possible.
Is colorectal cancer preventable?
Cancer of the colon or rectum can commonly be prevented with routine colon cancer exams. Given that most colon cancers develop as premalignant growths, scheduling screenings as advised by your physician can help minimize your chances of getting this condition. Our Utah gastroenterologists can provide further information on lowering your risk for colon cancer when you visit our team for a consultation.
Help for colorectal cancer patients
If you or a loved one suspects or has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, take solace in adept assistance being nearby. Utah Gastroenterology is a physician-led system of gastroenterologists, and all of our board-certified doctors plan to place the reassurance and safety of our clients before everything else. To discover more about colorectal cancer and how it might be detected and prevented, or to get treatment for colorectal cancer in Utah, contact our office today.
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