Colorectal Cancers | What You Need to Know

Colorectal cancer develops when cells in the colon and/or rectum begin to grow uncontrollably.

72% of colorectal cancers begin in the colon, and 28% in the rectum.

Most colorectal cancers are asymptomatic. Due to their slow growth, symptoms develop in advanced cases. Regular screening and preventive measures can help detect colorectal cancers early.

Types of colorectal tumors

Depending on the location of the tumor, several types of colorectal cancer are distinguished:

• Adenocarcinoma – occurs in 96% of cases. Develops from the epithelium of the colon or rectum.
• Carcinoid tumor – develops from hormonally active cells of the intestine
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumors – believed to originate from nerve plexus cells in the stomach and intestines
• Lymphoma – tumors that develop from immune cells of the gastrointestinal tract
• Sarcoma – develops from connective tissue structures of blood vessels and muscles

Causes of colorectal tumors

Most colon and rectal cancers begin as polyps. Polyps are usually benign, but most colorectal polyps can be hyperplastic and inflammatory, especially in the right colon, which increases their potential for malignancy. Some polyps are adenomatous, which is a precancerous condition that can progress to malignancy without treatment.

Colorectal tumors can arise from any dysplastic (degenerate) cell in the intestinal wall.

Risk factors for colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer can develop in anyone, but it is more common after the age of 50.

The lifetime risk of developing the disease in men is 1:22, and in women it is 1:24.

Risk factors increase the likelihood of developing the disease:

• Personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
• Animal and above
• A diet rich in meat and meat products
• Inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease)
• Inherited diseases such as familial adenomatous polyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer
• Obesity
• Tobacco consumption
• Less physical activity
• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Type 2 diabetes
• Breast cancer
• Ovarian and uterine cancer diagnosed before age 50

Polyps have a higher risk of becoming malignant if:

• Size exceeds 1 centimeter
• More than 2 in quantity
• Shows signs of dysplasia

Symptoms of colorectal tumors

• Change in usual bowel activity (constipation, diarrhea)
• Feeling of fullness despite emptying the bowels
• Bleeding from the rectum
• Bleeding during defecation
• Change in stool form
• Spasmodic pain in the stomach
• Unexplained weight loss
• Laboratory picture of anemia
• common weakness

Diagnosis

In parallel with physical and instrumental examinations, morphological study of biopsy material is performed. Biochemical studies of feces and examination for occult bleeding are also performed. If necessary, genetic diagnostics of colorectal tumors is necessary.

Treatment of colorectal tumors

Treatment for colorectal cancer is determined by factors such as:

• Stage of the disease
• General health status
• Risk factors
• Treatment options
• Possible side effects and benefits

Based on this data, with the patient's informed consent, the doctor makes a decision on the optimal treatment options:

• surgery
• Radiation therapy
• Radiofrequency ablation
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Targeted therapy
• Palliative care

Prevention of colorectal tumors

The first step in preventing colorectal cancer, as well as any other cancer, is a healthy lifestyle.

Healthy eating habits, sufficient physical activity, and the judicious use of medications reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Postmenopausal women who take estrogen-progesterone therapy have a lower risk of developing colorectal cancer, but if the disease does develop, it is usually detected at a later stage. Hormone replacement therapy also increases the risk of developing other cancers.

Regular screening for colorectal cancer is necessary for people aged 45-75. It is recommended to have at least 1 of the following tests:

• Occult bleeding test – once a year
• Colono-sigmoidoscopy – every 5 years
• CT colonography – once every 5 years
• Colonoscopy – every 10 years
• Colorectal cancer genetic testing – if necessary

The Synevo Laboratory offers colorectal cancer screening tests and genetic cancer diagnostic panels:

Source:

https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/colorectal-polyps-cancer

n.manjaparashvili@synevo.ge