COLORECTAL CANCER

DESCRIPTION
The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus . Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps

DESCRIPTION
Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers
Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during colonoscopy and are not life-threatening. If benign polyps are not liferemoved from the large intestine, they can become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps

DESCRIPTION
Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies around the world. It is common in the Western world and is rare in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing

ASSESSMENT
#Colorectal cancer is not contagious (a person cannot catch the disease from a cancer patient)
@ Factors that increase a person's risk of colorectal cancer include: & High fat intake & A family history of colorectal cancer and polyps & The presence of polyps in the large intestine & Chronic ulcerative colitis.

ASSESSMENT
*Symptoms of colon cancer are numerous and

nonspecific * They include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, change in bowel habits, narrow stools, diarrhea or constipation, red or dark blood in constipation, loss, pain, stool, weight loss, abdominal pain, cramps, or bloating.

ASSESSMENT
*Other conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (spastic colon), ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, diverticulosis, and peptic ulcer disease, disease can have symptoms that mimic colorectal cancer. *Symptoms vary according to where in the large bowel the tumor is located.

ASSESSMENT
*The right colon is spacious, and cancers of the right colon can grow to large sizes before they cause any abdominal symptoms. Typically, right-sided cancers cause iron rightdeficiency anemia due to the slow loss of blood over a long period of time. Iron deficiency anemia causes fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath *The left colon is narrower than the right colon. Therefore, cancers of the left colon are more likely to cause partial or complete bowel obstruction. Cancers causing partial bowel obstruction can cause symptoms of constipation, narrowed stool, diarrhea, abdominal pains, cramps, and bloating. Bright red blood in the stool may also indicate a growth near the end of the left colon or rectum

DIAGNOTIC EVALUATION
*Examinations of the rectum
*Stool tested for hidden or "occult" blood *Blood tests are now available to test for FAP, AFAP, MYH, and HNPCC hereditary colon cancer syndromes *Flexible sigmoidoscopies or screening colonoscopies are performed even if the stool occult blood tests are negative.

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
#Therapeutic intervention -Major sources of fat are meat, eggs, dairy products, salad dressings,
and oils used in cooking

-Fiber is the insoluble, nondigestible part of plant material present in

-It is postulated that high fiber in the diet leads to the creation of bulky
stools which can rid the intestines of potential carcinogens

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
#Pharmacologic intervention -In some patients, there is no evidence of distant
metastasis at the time of surgery, but the cancer has penetrated deeply into the colon wall or reached adjacent lymph nodes. @ Chemotherapy in these patients may delay tumor recurrence and improve survival. - Chemotherapy is the use of medications to kill cancer cells

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
-Red blood cells, platelets, and white blood cells are
frequently affected by chemotherapy. Common side effects include anemia, loss of energy, easy bruising, and a low resistance to infections. Cells in the hair roots and intestines also divide rapidly. Therefore, chemotherapy can cause hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, loss, vomiting, and diarrhea

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
@
Radiation therapy in colorectal cancer has been limited to treating cancer of the rectum.

-With radiation, the risk is lowered to approximately 7%.

COLLABORATIVE MANAGEMENT
- Such combinations can specifically seek and destroy tumor tissues in
the body. Other treatments attempt to boost the immune system, the bodies' own defense system, in an effort to more effectively attack and control colon cancer. In patients who are poor surgical risks, but who have large tumors which are causing obstruction or bleeding, laser treatment can be used to destroy cancerous tissue and relieve associated symptoms. Still other experimental agents include the use of photodynamic therapy. In this treatment, a light

sensitive agent is taken up by the tumor which can then be activated to cause tumor destruction

EDUCATION AND HEALTH MAINTENANCE

chronic ulcerative colitis have an increased risk of colon cancer, and should have regular colonoscopies to look for precancerous changes in the colon lining.