Around 7% of Americans are under the threat of Colon Cancer popularly known as colorectal cancer or bowel cancer, suggests a recent study. This is generally caused by cell growth, which is uncontrolled, and this mainly happens in the rectum or the colon. This is totally different from the cancer which affects the anus which is clinically known as anal cancer so that people do not get confused and mix up these two types of cancers. The bowel lining is where this type of cancer mainly starts, and if it is not treated properly, it can affect the underneath muscle layers and finally the wall of the bowel.
Since this cancer is inside the body, there are no guaranteed visible symptoms which can lead us to the conclusion that a person might be suffering from Colon Cancer. Although there are no sure shot signs or symptoms, anemia or rectal bleeding might just raise an eyebrow as these features are high risk. Clinical studies suggest that with the increase in age, the chances of developing colon cancer increases. People who have had this cancer previously are more prone to having it again and specially women who had breast, uterus or ovary cancer.
Non smokers are at a lower risk than smokers for getting affected by Colon cancer. Recent studies have brought to light the fact that the diets, which consist mainly, of processed meat and red meat and meals, in which the fiber content is low, run a higher risk of getting affected by Colon cancer. Studies further shows that people whose alcohol intake exceeds 30 ml a day are at a higher risk of becoming a prey to this cancer. This cancer mainly happens due to mutation in the epithelial cells, due to which the signaling activity is increased artificially, resulting in uncontrollable cell growth.
Several years are needed for Colon cancer to develop completely and the faster it is diagnosed, the chances of getting cured are greater. There are several ways to confirm if a person is suffering from this cancer or not. The most practiced way is that the doctor wears a lubricated glove and puts in a finger in the rectum to feel if there is any abnormal swelling which might be a tumor. This test is effective and useful as an initial level screening test. Several advanced tests like, Sigmoidoscopy and colonoscopy confirm the results if there are any traces of cancer or not.
Different methods formulated by different people are used to classify the different stages of colon cancer. Recently a medical journal published the news that scientists from Japan have found out that Labradors could detect colon cancer by the smell of a chemical that is produced, and the success rate is around 95 %, which is surprising. This cancer is preventable, and can be prevented from happening in the first place by improved lifestyle; enhanced surveillance and maybe with the proper use of chemo-preventative dietary agents can stop this cancer from affecting an individual.
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