Colon cancer is now the third most frequent cancer in men and women. Colon cancer can be easily diagnosed early with colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy. Colon cancer diagnosed at an early stage is curable with only simple surgery and only a few days off work! At Dr Daniel’s, we believe that anyone should have a colonoscopy or CT colonoscopy from the age of 50 every 5 years.
Colorectal cancer (also known as colon cancer, rectal cancer or bowel cancer) is when cancer develops in the colon or rectum (parts of the large intestine). It is due to the abnormal growth of cells that have the ability to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms may include blood in the stool, a change in bowel movements, weight loss, and feeling tired all the time.
Most colorectal cancers are due to lifestyle factors and increasing age, with only a small number of cases due to underlying genetic disorders. Risk factors include diet, obesity, smoking and not enough physical activity. Dietary factors that increase the risk include red and processed meat, as well as alcohol. Another risk factor is inflammatory bowel disease, which includes Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Some of the inherited conditions that can cause colorectal cancer include: familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer; however, these represent less than 5% of cases. It typically starts as a benign tumor which over time becomes cancerous.
