what all can u tell me about colon cancer?

Answer 1

All well and good. I know someone who had no indicators whatsoever. She collapsed. Came to, got her butt to an urgent care facility. Went downhill from there. She was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer. A colonoscopy in her fifties would have caught it.

She's had three surgeries so far, with another one on the horizon. It's gone to her lymph nodes, liver and lungs. She's pissed because she doesn't smoke or drink alcohol.

She's lost the lining of her stomach and what bit of colon they left her. Lost her hair, her sense of touch, her hearing has decreased, balance is shot, she has neuropathy. If that isn't bad enough, she has had severe allergic reactions to at least half her meds!

I was there at the hospital when the head nurse came in and asked if a new phlebotomist could draw blood. She said OK. Later I asked her why. She has neuropathy and said it wouldn't hurt because she couldn't feel it and was the perfect one to practice on. The head nurse said she had guts, she started laughing so hard I thought she would quit breathing. "Good Heavens no, you took'em out" I see why she was a hit with the nurses.

She has totally changed her diet. She exercises to the best of her ability, prays, goes to hands on healing at her church, receives Reiki (?). She's got meds up the ying-yang. She says getting well is a lot of work. She is tired alot, but keeps going. Her phrase is, "Use it or lose it, what the heck! I lost my colon and I used that a lot!" LOL!

She has an amazing sense of humor, totally messes with the oncology staff, hospital staff, doctors and nurses. I've been with her and everybody remembers her. She blames it on bringing in donuts, dried fruit, nuts, candy every time she goes in for treatment. Not for her, for the staff.

Even though the prognosis was pretty grim in the beginning, she seems to have made quite a bit of progress, to the delight of the hospital staff and medical community. She has a real good chance of beating the cancer inspite of the situation.

Answer 2

What is cancer of the colon and rectum?

The colon is the part of the digestive system where the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during colonoscopy, and are not life threatening. If benign polyps are not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant (cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of the colon and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can invade and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver and lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to distant organs is called metastasis of the colon cancer. Once metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a complete cure of the cancer is unlikely.

Colon cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the colon.

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. 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 6 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).

Possible signs of colon cancer include a change in bowel habits or blood in the stool.

These and other symptoms may be caused by colon cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

A change in bowel habits.
Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool.
Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely.
Stools that are narrower than usual.
Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps.
Weight loss for no known reason.
Feeling very tired.
Vomiting.

Answer 3

I have it. OMG.......too weird. A zango ad just pop up about it. Any way..........there is no knowledge as to why and how it develops. There is nothing you did wrong or could have done to prevent it. My cancer devoloped from having advanced ulcerative colitis. My meds are asacol and predisone. I pulled myself off the steroids, as all literature annd personal experience, showed steroids are pretty much ineffective after 6 months.

The doctors want to remove my colon. That would mean a j-pouch or colostomy bag. I seriously can't afford this, nor do I really accept that these are my only options.

Living with this...........I have good days and have really bad days. For research I went to CCFA.org and UC.org and alot of other cancer related sites.

Personally, if it is you dealing with this.....please know I am more than willing to talk to you at length if you want to talk to me. Whatever the case.......IT SUCKS. The bleeding. The emergency bathroom runs. The family looking at you like you are gonna die any second. The incredible weight loss. Just contact me if you need too. I really understand.

Answer 4

I will do my best to tell you what i know as I had colon cancer.i can tell you this much do not ignore
any unusal symptoms like rectal bleeding even the smallest amounts.do not ignore any pain.It is one of the worst cancers you can get>but dont be afarid of going to your doctor at anytime.If caught in time the doctors can do wonderful things nowdays to hopefuly get rid of it in time.
It isnt a easy thing to go through through.It is very painful I can tell you this much.The pain was awful
at times i didnt think i would make it>but i am still here.so please take my advice see your doctor right away if you even suspect you have it.I would not want anyone to go through what i had to go through.they use chemo and radation on you first for like 6 weeks .then they will do surgery on you
to remove the cancer from the colon area.This is a major operation.very painful to.then more chemo
after the surgery is done anywhere from 3 months to 6 months of it.please see your doctor

Answer 5

My mother and grandmother were both diagnosed a week apart. I've gotten to see things at their best and their worst. My mom had surgery, and is all good now. My grandmother, had to have her colon removed and has a colostomy bag +2 hours of chemo a week. She's doing very well, she's an amazing woman. If there's anything I could help you with, feel free to ask.

Answer 6

there are few types
to be easy in language and understandable terms..
1)malignant/diffuse cancers
2)benign non diffuse but it can also be the reason of blockage of tract.
3)metastases from other cancer in the body.

if operation is done and radically remove the cancerous part,stoma/fistula to put the intestine through the wall of abdoment so tht the patient can defaecate .

Answer 7

If you do not check for it once in a while and it comes it will condemn you before you can do anything about it. Just tell your MD you are worried about it and he will order the appropriate tests. It is probably the first or second cancer killer of men...competing with lung.

Answer 8

http://www.cancer.gov/cancerinfo/pdq/treatment/colon/patient

Answer 9

To know about it click the following sites-

http://www.medicinenet.com/colon_cancer/article.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000262.htm

Answer 10

It's crappy and it stinks!

I did hear that if you ate fiber you might not get it?