Colon Cancer

            
            
             Colon cancer of the large bowel, or colon and rectum is highly treatable and often a curable disease when it is localized and diagnosed in its early stages. Ten percent of all cancer in the United States involve either the colon or the rectum.(Fisher) Colorectal cancer is the fourth commonly diagnosed cancer and rank the second leading cause of death in the United State.(ACS) Colon and rectal cancer develop in the digestive tract, which is called the gastrointestinal, or GI tract. The exact cause of colorectal cancer is unknown. However, studies show that certain factors increases a person likelihood of developing this disease.
             GI Tract.
             The colon is made up of four sections. The first section is the ascending colon, it extend upward on the right side of the abdomen. The second section is the transverse colon since it goes across the body to the left side. There it joins the third section, the descending colon, which continues downward on the left side. The fourth section is the sigmoid colon because of its s-shape. The sigmoid colon joins the anus, or the opening where waste matter passes out of the body.
             Symptoms.
             Cancer can develop in any of the four sections of the colon or in the rectum. Colorectal cancer symptoms depends on the location of the tumor, right colon or left colon. Cancer of the larger and more pliable right colon frequently bleed, causing anemia, but do not usually block the colon because the stool is still liquid in the right side of the colon. Cancers in the left colon may obstruct the bowel, causing a change in bowel habits and stool size. There may be dark red rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, which maybe long and narrow.
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             Other symptoms include abdominal or pelvic pain, gas, vomiting, persistent constipation or diarrhea, weight loss and weakness. Pain is a worrisome problem with rectal cancer, it often means the tumor is growing into nerves.(Fisher).