Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer, also called large bowel cancer, is the term used to describe malignant tumours found in the colon and rectum. The colon and rectum are part of the large intestine of the digestive system, usually referred to as the gastrointestinal tract. Typically, the colon is the upper 5 or 6 feet of the large intestine, and the rectum is the lower 5 to 7 inches located above the anal canal.
Types of Colorectal Cancer:
- Stage I: Cancer has grown through the mucosa and has invaded the muscular layer of the colon or rectum.
- Stage II:Cancer has grown through the wall of the colon or rectum
- Stage III: Cancer has grown through the inner lining or into the muscle layers of the intestine and spread to one to three lymph nodes
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to different organ like lungs, bones, liver, lymph nodes, brain or spinal cord.
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
- Persistent constipation or diarrhoea
- An urgency to move the bowels
- Rectal cramping, or rectal bleeding
- Dark patches of blood in or on stool; or long, thin, "pencil stools"
- Abdominal discomfort or bloating
- Unexplained fatigue, loss of appetite, and/or weight loss
- Pelvic pain, which occurs at later stages of the disease
Risk factors
- Older age (after 50)
- Inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis
- A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
- Lack of regular physical activity
- Low fruit and vegetable intake
- A low-fibre and high-fat diet
- Overweight and obesity
- Alcohol consumption
- Tobacco use
