Tuesday, April 01, 2008 Understanding colon cancer By Henrylito D. Tacio Health 101
"OUR mother had suffered from an episode of high blood pressure and difficulty in breathing followed by fever during the week in between Christmas and New Year. Since that time, we became concerned because of her consistent cough, loss of appetite and noticeable weight loss."
That was what people TV host and actress Kris Aquino said in a statement read on television recently. Her mother, Corazon C. Aquino, is said to be suffering from colon cancer, which was discovered when the former president went to have a checkup.
"Our mom wanted to know what was wrong with her, and with her family by her side, she submitted herself to a check-up and several tests. The results showed that our mother is suffering cancer of the colon," said the weeping Kris.
Dr. Antonio Villalon, former official of the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS), said colon cancer is the number three most common type of cancer among Filipinos.
In 2005, a total of 8,585 new cases of cancer of the colon were diagnosed. "It is number three in terms of both sexes next to lung and breast cancer," he said.
Among Filipino women, colon cancer (which includes cancers of both the colon and the rectum) is the number four most common type of cancer.
The colon is part of the body's digestive system. "The digestive system removes and processes nutrients (vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and water) from foods and helps pass waste material out of the body," explains the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in the United States.
The digestive system is made up of the esophagus, stomach, and the small and large intestines. The first 6 feet of the large intestine are called the large bowel or colon. The last six inches are the rectum and the anal canal. The anal canal ends at the anus (the opening of the large intestine to the outside of the body).
Colon cancer generally grows slowly, says the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. "Colon cancer usually begins as an area of abnormal cells (lesion). Most of these abnormal lesions begin as tiny polyps - raised clumps of non-cancerous (benign) cells growing on the inner lining of the large intestine. Another type of pre-cancerous lesion (nonpolypoid lesion) forms as a flat or recessed area on the wall of the colon. Non-polypoid lesions are less common than polyps."
Just bear this in mind: Not all polyps become cancerous, but nearly all colon cancers start out as polyps.
The NCI says that age and health history can affect the risk of developing colon cancer. "Anything that increases your chance of getting a disease is called a risk factor," NCI points out. "Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer; not having risk factors doesn't mean that you will not get cancer."
Risk factors include the following: age 50 or older; a family history of cancer of the colon or rectum; a personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, or breast; a history of polyps in the colon; and a history of ulcerative colitis (ulcers in the lining of the large intestine) or Crohn disease.
Dr. Villalon said that people who are in danger of developing colon cancer are those who have high cholesterol diet and low fiber intake. In the United States, studies have shown that colon cancer "may be associated with a high-fat, low-fiber diet and red meat." However, some studies found that the risk does not drop if the person switches to a high-fiber diet, "so the cause of the link is not yet clear."
Like most cancers, many cases of colon cancer have no symptoms. The following symptoms, however, may indicate colon cancer: diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits; blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool; unexplained anemia; abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen; intestinal obstruction; weight loss with no known reason; feeling very tired; and vomiting.
"With proper screening, colon cancer can be detected before the development of symptoms, when it is most curable," said the Mayo Clinic.
According to Dr. Villalon, cure for colon cancer depends on how the disease has advanced. Stages one and two are still "curable with surgery," he said.
However, stages three and four are deadly since their median survival rate is an approximate 49 months or four years.
Patients diagnosed with stages three and four have also a 48 percent chance to survive within five years, Dr. Villalon claimed.
