Colon CancerColon Cancer

What is the ColonWhat is the Colon The Colon comprises The Colon comprises

the end of the long, the end of the long, coiled, tubular digestive coiled, tubular digestive tract located in the tract located in the AbdomenAbdomen

It basically acts as a It basically acts as a waste processorwaste processor

Takes digested food in Takes digested food in the form of Solid waste the form of Solid waste pushing it out of the pushing it out of the rectum and anusrectum and anus

The Colorectal tube is a The Colorectal tube is a prime location for the prime location for the development and development and growth of small polyps growth of small polyps or tumorsor tumors

Colon; The Cancer Its Colon; The Cancer Its SelfSelf

It starts with a simple It starts with a simple cell the mutates and cell the mutates and grows into a polypsgrows into a polyps

If a polyp is allowed If a polyp is allowed to remain in the to remain in the colon it can grow into colon it can grow into a cancerous tumor a cancerous tumor that can invade other that can invade other organs. organs.

Colon cancer is the Colon cancer is the second leading cause second leading cause of cancer deathsof cancer deaths

Stages of Colon CancerStages of Colon Cancer

Stage 0-Stage 0- In Stage 0, the cancer is at a very early In Stage 0, the cancer is at a very early

stage and is located only in the inner stage and is located only in the inner lining of the colon. The recommended lining of the colon. The recommended treatment for Stage 0 colon cancer is treatment for Stage 0 colon cancer is surgical removal of the tumor, along with surgical removal of the tumor, along with parts of the colon on either side of the parts of the colon on either side of the tumor site. If detected early, colon tumor site. If detected early, colon cancer is highly curable and has a low cancer is highly curable and has a low risk for recurrence.risk for recurrence.

Stages of Colon Cancer Stages of Colon Cancer (continued)(continued)

Stage 1-Stage 1- in this stage, the cancer has grown in this stage, the cancer has grown

through several layers of the colon, through several layers of the colon, but is still confined to the wall of the but is still confined to the wall of the colon. It has not spread to nearby colon. It has not spread to nearby organs as yet. Surgery is the organs as yet. Surgery is the recommended treatment at Stage I. recommended treatment at Stage I. Stage I is also highly curable, with a Stage I is also highly curable, with a low risk for recurrence.low risk for recurrence.

Stages of Colon Cancer Stages of Colon Cancer (continued)(continued)

Stage 2- Stage 2- In Stage II, the cancer has spread In Stage II, the cancer has spread

(metastases) to nearby organs or tissues, (metastases) to nearby organs or tissues, but not to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes but not to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped structures where are small, bean-shaped structures where cells are stored; nodes can trap cancer cells cells are stored; nodes can trap cancer cells or bacteria traveling through the body. The or bacteria traveling through the body. The recommended treatment for Stage II is recommended treatment for Stage II is surgical removal of the tumor. Adjuvant surgical removal of the tumor. Adjuvant therapy (chemotherapy and radiation therapy (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) is also suggested for Stage II therapy) is also suggested for Stage II patients with recurrences.patients with recurrences.

Stages of Colon Cancer Stages of Colon Cancer (continued)(continued)

Stage 3-Stage 3- In this stage, the cancer has spread outside the In this stage, the cancer has spread outside the

large intestine to regional lymph nodes, but not large intestine to regional lymph nodes, but not to other body parts. Treatment for Stage III to other body parts. Treatment for Stage III colon cancer includes surgical removal of a colon cancer includes surgical removal of a section of the colon and rejoining the section of the colon and rejoining the remaining ends (anastomosis). Surgery is remaining ends (anastomosis). Surgery is usually followed by chemotherapy. Studies usually followed by chemotherapy. Studies have shown that the number of lymph nodes have shown that the number of lymph nodes involved affects the outcome. Patients with 1-3 involved affects the outcome. Patients with 1-3 nodes involved have significantly greater nodes involved have significantly greater survival rates than those with 4 or more nodes survival rates than those with 4 or more nodes involved.involved.

Stages of Colon Cancer Stages of Colon Cancer (continued)(continued)

Stage 4-Stage 4- Stage IV is the most advanced stage of colon Stage IV is the most advanced stage of colon

cancer. The cancer has spread beyond the cancer. The cancer has spread beyond the colon, rectum or regional lymph nodes to colon, rectum or regional lymph nodes to distant organs or tissue (such as liver, ovaries distant organs or tissue (such as liver, ovaries and lungs). Although cancer is not usually and lungs). Although cancer is not usually curable at this stage, surgery is still the curable at this stage, surgery is still the recommended treatment. Surgical resection of recommended treatment. Surgical resection of the colon and reconnection of the large the colon and reconnection of the large intestine is done so as to blockage of the colon intestine is done so as to blockage of the colon and any other local complications. and any other local complications. Chemotherapy and/or radiation are generally Chemotherapy and/or radiation are generally given for palliative purposes.given for palliative purposes.

Risk FactorsRisk Factors

It can occur at any age but mostly if your It can occur at any age but mostly if your of 45 years of ageof 45 years of age

Have some type of Polyps( even though it Have some type of Polyps( even though it is non-cancerous)is non-cancerous)

Have had some other type of CancerHave had some other type of Cancer A blood relative with Colon Cancer esp. A A blood relative with Colon Cancer esp. A

Parent or a Sibling.Parent or a Sibling. Have an inflammatory diseaseHave an inflammatory disease Have a diet low in fiber and high in fatsHave a diet low in fiber and high in fats

Risk Factors (continued)Risk Factors (continued)

If you eat a lot of animal sourcesIf you eat a lot of animal sources If your not physically activeIf your not physically active Or ObeseOr Obese

Symptoms of Colon Symptoms of Colon CancerCancer

Persistent Persistent ConstipationConstipation

DiarrheaDiarrhea Blood in the StoolBlood in the Stool And Unexplained And Unexplained

FatigueFatigue

The Difference between a The Difference between a Normal Colon and a Colon Normal Colon and a Colon

with Cancerwith Cancer

The Difference between a The Difference between a Normal Colon and a Colon Normal Colon and a Colon with Cancer (Continued)with Cancer (Continued)

The Colon on the Left is a normal Colon The Colon on the Left is a normal Colon and the Colon on the right is a Colon with and the Colon on the right is a Colon with Cancer.Cancer.

You can see the difference of the twoYou can see the difference of the two The normal Colon has a bigger opening and The normal Colon has a bigger opening and

the Colon with cancer has a small openingthe Colon with cancer has a small opening There is also a difference in color. The There is also a difference in color. The

normal Colon is more yellowish and the normal Colon is more yellowish and the Colon with cancer is more tanish.Colon with cancer is more tanish.

Notice that the Colon with cancer has more Notice that the Colon with cancer has more veins and the normal Colon has fewerveins and the normal Colon has fewer

SurgerySurgery Surgery or "resection" of the colon involves Surgery or "resection" of the colon involves

cutting away the portion of the colon that is cutting away the portion of the colon that is diseased, and reconnecting the two healthy diseased, and reconnecting the two healthy parts (anastomosis).parts (anastomosis).

In a small percentage of patients with colon In a small percentage of patients with colon cancer (about 15 percent) the surgeon will be cancer (about 15 percent) the surgeon will be unable to reconnect the healthy parts. In such a unable to reconnect the healthy parts. In such a case, a temporary or permanent colostomy is case, a temporary or permanent colostomy is used. A colostomy is a surgical opening (stoma) used. A colostomy is a surgical opening (stoma) through the wall of the abdomen into the colon, through the wall of the abdomen into the colon, which provides a new path for waste material to which provides a new path for waste material to leave the body. A special bag is worn to collect leave the body. A special bag is worn to collect the body's waste. the body's waste.

Colon Cancer Colon Cancer PreventionsPreventions

Colon cancer can Colon cancer can be prevented and be prevented and cured through cured through early detectionearly detection

Changing your Changing your eating eating habits( more fiber habits( more fiber and less fats)and less fats)

Don’t smoke and Don’t smoke and drink lessdrink less

Future ResearchFuture Research You may have heard You may have heard

that taking aspirin that taking aspirin prevents colon cancer. prevents colon cancer. This is an exciting This is an exciting area of research, and area of research, and studies are currently studies are currently underway to evaluate underway to evaluate whether aspirin can whether aspirin can prevent the prevent the recurrence of recurrence of precancerous colon precancerous colon polyps. polyps.

Colon Cancer DeathsColon Cancer DeathsBy Ethnicity and GenreBy Ethnicity and Genre

Colon Cancer Deaths Colon Cancer Deaths (Continued)(Continued)

Approximately 6% of Americans will Approximately 6% of Americans will develop colon cancer and 40% of develop colon cancer and 40% of those will die of the diseasethose will die of the disease

There are about 134,000 new cases There are about 134,000 new cases and 55,000 deaths occur annuallyand 55,000 deaths occur annually

90% of deaths are over people 45 90% of deaths are over people 45 years oldyears old

THE ENDTHE END