Colon Cancer: Causes and Symptoms

Colon Cancer is The Most Preventable Type of Cancer

Around 112,000 new cases of colon cancer are diagnosed each year and almost half of that amount of people die each year from the disease. Yet, while it is one of the most common types of cancer, it’s also one of the most preventable.

While anyone can get colon cancer, age is the most determining risk factor. From around 10 out of every 100,000 people ages 40 to 45, it raises to around 300 out of every 100,000 by the ages of 75. It affects men more often than women and people that drink, smoke, are over weight and inactive are at higher risk.

When new cells are needed, the body naturally divides cells to create more and keep the body healthy. Cancer causes the cells to divide abnormally, the abundance of un-needed cells form a solid mass called a tumor or polyp. Not all colon polyps are malignant, benign polyps can be easily removed and generally won’t return.

Cells from the benign polyps don’t spread throughout the body. Malignant cells however, spread and invade the organs and tissues in the surrounding area of the polyp. And, when cancer cells become detached from the polyp, they travel to other parts of the body in the bloodstream through a process called metastasis.

Although, benign polyps aren’t cancerous, if left untreated, over time they will evolve into cancer. The size of the polyp also plays a big part in it’s transformation into cancer. But, colon cancer has a high cure rate if detected and treated early.

There are many factors that contribute to the development of colon polyps. A diet that includes low amounts of vegetables, fruits and fiber can greatly increase your chances of developing polyps. Risks for people who drink increase 87%, smoking increases your risk by 250% and if you do both your risk goes up to 400%!

Heredity also plays an important part, if you’ve had a relative that has had colon cancer or inflammatory bowel disease, your risk is increased up to four times. And, women that have a history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer or endometrial cancers are at higher risk.

People that follow a healthy, well balanced diet, exercise regularly, and get lot’s of calcium are less likely to get colon polyps. Recent studies have shown that taking 325mg of aspirin daily may even reduce your risk of colon cancer.

Developing colon cancer is a slow process that literally takes years. It can take as much as five years or longer for one polyp to reach 1/2 inch in size. Once it reaches that size, it may take another five to ten years for it to become malignant. Then it can take another five to ten years for any symptoms to develop!

The long evolution period associated with colon cancer greatly decreases the chance for a cure. By the time symptoms start to develop, it is often already too late to remove the colon cancer. After years of going undetected, it has usually already spread to other parts of the body.

Most people that have colon cancer have little or no symptoms at all until it’s too late for a cure. But, some people experience a dramatic change in bowel movements, iron deficiency, abdominal pain in the lower left side and even excessive fatigue.

Having a regular yearly exam is the best way for early detection and removal of polyps before they can turn into cancer. Many physicians recommend that regular exams begin at age 40, but if you’re at a higher risk you may need to start the regimen at an earlier age.