Should Young People Get Colonoscopies
Even though colorectal cancer is rising in young people, the incidence is still too low to justify routine colonoscopies for them. Once a screening test is developed for a disease, itâs important to make sure that the number of screenings performed will prevent enough cancers to justify the costs of and risks associated with the tests.
A colonoscopy is performed with the patient under conscious sedation. The doctor inserts a flexible tube with a light and camera on the end through the rectum to examine the colon. The tube also allows a doctor to remove any polyps that may be precancerous, heading off many cancers before they develop. For that reason, colonoscopy is considered to be one of the biggest reasons for the overall decrease in colorectal cancer.
Colonoscopies are recommended for most people at age 50, and repeated every 10 years. They are recommended at age 45 for Black men and women, who have a higher risk of colorectal cancer and sometimes earlier for people who have a family history. But Dr. Reddy does prescribe colonoscopies for people of all ages who have symptoms such as rectal bleeding that they cant diagnose with a different problem.
If youre not satisfied that your doctor has properly evaluated your symptoms, its smart to get a second opinion or even a third.
When Do I Need To See A Doctor About Rectal Bleeding
Its usually a good idea to reach out to your healthcare provider whenever you have rectal bleeding. It can be a sign of another health condition that might need treatment. If you have heavy bleeding or are seeing blood in multiple bowel movements, its urgent that you see your provider. Rectal bleeding can have serious causes that need to be treated.
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When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
Follow-up colon cancer care varies depending on the cancer stage. For example, people who have surgery for Stage 0 or Stage I colon cancer may have a colonoscopy one year after surgery, another colonoscopy three years after surgery and a third five years after surgery.
Unless the follow-up colonoscopies find signs of cancer, someone with Stage 0 or Stage 1 colon cancer may be able to wait several more years before having another colonoscopy.
People successfully treated for Stage II or Stage III colon cancer will need to see their healthcare provider every three to six months for the first two years after treatment and are typically followed for five years from surgery. They may have tests including colonoscopies, CEA blood tests and imaging tests.
Anyone recovering from colon cancer treatment should contact their healthcare provider if they notice changes that may indicate the cancer has come back or is spreading.
When should I go to the emergency room?
If youre receiving colon cancer treatment, ask your healthcare provider about symptoms that may be signs you should go to the emergency room. You may need to go to the emergency room if you have:
- Side effects that are more intense than you expected.
- A fever higher than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit .
- Chills that dont go away.
- Severe abdominal pain.
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Colon Cancer Also Sometimes Called Colorectal Cancer Originates In The Colon Or Large Intestine
In most cases, the patient develops polyps or small clumps of cells. While initially benign, polyps can turn cancerous.
Colon cancer is most common in people who are over 50 years old. It is more common in African-Americans than in other ethnic groups, and a susceptibility to colon cancer can run in families.
What Are The Symptoms Of Rectal Cancer
Rectal cancer can cause many symptoms and signs that require a person to seek medical care. However, rectal cancer may also be present without any symptoms, underscoring the importance of routine health screening. Symptoms and signs to be aware of include the following:
- Seeing blood mixed with stool is a sign to seek immediate medical care. Although many people bleed due to hemorrhoids, a doctor should still be notified in the event of rectal bleeding.
- Change in bowel habits
- Prolonged rectal bleeding may lead to anemia, causing fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or a fast heartbeat.
- Bowel obstruction
- A rectal mass may grow so large that it prevents the normal passage of stool. This blockage may lead to the feeling of severe constipation or pain when having a bowel movement. In addition, abdominal pain, discomfort, or cramping may occur due to the blockage.
- The stool size may appear narrow so that it can be passed around the rectal mass. Therefore, pencil-thin or narrow stools may be another sign of an obstruction from rectal cancer.
- A person with rectal cancer may have a sensation that the stool cannot be completely evacuated after a bowel movement.
- Weight loss: Cancer may cause weight loss. Unexplained weight loss requires a medical evaluation.
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What Causes Colon Cancer
Like all types of cancer, colon cancer happens when cells grow and divide uncontrollably. All cells in your body are constantly growing, dividing and dying. Thats how your body remains healthy and working as it should. In colon cancer, cells lining your colon and rectum keep growing and dividing even when theyre supposed to die. These cancerous cells may come from polyps in your colon.
Medical researchers arent sure why some people develop precancerous colon polyps that become colon cancer. They do know certain risk factors increase peoples chances of developing precancerous polyps and colon cancer.
Those risk factors include certain medical conditions, including inherited conditions, and lifestyle choices. Having one or more risk factors for colon cancer doesnt mean youll develop the condition. It just means you have increased risk. Understanding risk factors may help you decide if you should talk to a healthcare provider about your risk of developing colon cancer.
Lifestyle choices that are risk factors for colon cancer
Medical conditions that increase colon cancer risk
Hemorrhoids Or Colorectal Cancer: How To Know The Difference
In most cases, the problem traces back to a benign condition called hemorrhoids. But sometimes those same symptoms can indicate the onset of colorectal cancer, the third-leading cause of cancer deaths.
So what exactly is going on down there and what is the best way to treat it?
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How To Stay Healthy
You need to practice some healthy habits to have a healthy gut and prevent conditions like hemorrhoids and colon cancer. Below are some of the ways you can achieve this:
Eat Foods Rich in Fiber
Eating foods with enough fiber ensures that your stool is softened and it has enough bulk to quickly and easily move down the digestive tract. These foods include fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and root vegetables.
Drink Lots of Water
Water and fiber go hand in hand because water dissolves soluble fiber to make a gel-like substance that softens the stool. You should drink at least 6 glasses of water daily to prevent constipation.
Eat probiotics
Probiotics are foods that encourage the health of good bacteria in the gut that help in digestion and excretion. They also get rid of toxins and harmful bacteria. Foods that are considered probiotics include kimchi, yogurt, kombucha, pickles, kefir, and sauerkraut.
Exercise
Exercising regularly will boost digestive functions and keep stool moving quickly down the gut. It also lowers your risk of colon cancer because you avoid a sedentary lifestyle.
Practice Good Toilet Habits
Hemorrhoids Vs Colorectal Cancer: Signs Treatment And Complications
Did you know that there are two very different diseases that can affect your rectum and anus? Hemorrhoids and colorectal cancer are both common, but they have very different symptoms, treatments, and complications. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two diseases to help you understand the differences between them.
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A Crisis In Colon Cancer Care: Misdiagnosis
In the United States, the second-leading cancer-caused death is colorectal cancer. Some of the common signs of colon cancer include blood in the stool, excessive diarrhea or constipation or bowel movement, fatigue, and/or rectal bleeding . Keep in mind, however, that these signs dont necessarily guarantee colon cancer. Nonetheless, it is always important to screen for cancer. In order to make a screening decision, I urge you to read the other articles about screening options such as colonoscopies, FIT, and colonguard. Its a tough decisionone to discuss with your doctor.
While colorectal cancer occurrence has decreased over the years, it is still a major issue, if we consider the amount of people who dont screen early enough to catch their colon cancer. In fact, only 40% of colon cancer cases are caught early . Often times, I will tell family members, Please get screened for colon cancer as early as possible. Unfortunately the typical response may be, Im not 50 yet, Are you cursing me?, or Its too expensive. Even when people find a screening method that is affordable, such as the FIT test, it still may not be accurate enough. Many people still do not screen for cancer when they turn 50, even though this promise is a rule.
It is important to prevent misdiagnoses and be proactive in learning more about the accuracy of screening methods for colorectal cancer.
Vivian Yuen
How Do Healthcare Providers Stage Colon Cancer
Healthcare providers use the TNM cancer staging system developed by the American Joint Committee on Cancer to stage colon cancer.
There are five stages of colon cancer. Three of the four stages have three sub-stages. The colon cancer staging system includes the following:
- Stage 0: Healthcare providers may refer to this as carcinoma in situ. When they do, theyre talking about abnormal or precancerous cells in your mucosa, the innermost layer of your colon wall.
- Stage I: Stage I colorectal cancer has grown into the wall of your intestine but hasnt spread beyond the muscular coat or into close lymph nodes.
- Stage II: The cancer has spread farther into the wall of your intestine but hasnt spread to nearby lymph nodes. There are three types of Stage II colon cancer:
- Stage III: In this stage, colon cancer has spread to your lymph nodes. Like Stage II colon cancer, there are three sub-stages of Stage III colon cancer:
- Stage IV: Cancer has spread to other areas of your body, such as your liver, lungs or ovaries:
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Unexplained Weight Loss Loss Of Appetite And Feeling Weak
Losing weight, losing your appetite or feeling weak are all possible signs of colon or rectal cancer along with many other unrelated conditions. In patients with colon or rectal cancer, these symptoms are usually related. Persistent diarrhea can cause weight loss. Stomach pain and nausea can reduce your appetite so that you dont consume enough food to maintain your weight. All these issues, as well as anemia, can lead to weakness.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer might not cause symptoms right away. In fact, many of the symptoms of colorectal cancer can also be caused by other problems, such as infection, hemorrhoids, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease.
It’s important to get checked if you have any of following problems. In many cases, people who have these symptoms do not have cancer. But you should talk to your doctor if you have any of them so the cause can be found and treated.
- A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding with bright red blood
- Blood in the stool, which might make it look dark brown or black
- Cramping or abdominal pain
- Weakness and fatigue
- Losing weight without trying
Often colorectal cancer doesnt cause symptoms until it has grown or spread. Thats why its best to be tested for colorectal cancer before ever having any symptoms. Colorectal cancer thats found early through screening, before you have symptoms, might be easier to treat. Screening can even prevent some colorectal cancers by finding and removing pre-cancerous growths called polyps.
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It Is Important To Take Care Of Your Health
If you are only having minor symptoms and you believe it may be piles, you can try conservative at-home treatments for a few days to see if they help. These may include:
- Sitting in a shallow tub of warm water for a few minutes a few times a day
- Eating meals with higher fiber, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables
- Increasing your water intake
- Limiting time spent sitting on the toilet
- Increasing exercise, even if it is just taking a few short walks a day
However, if you continue to have chronic constipation and/or diarrhea, have had a major change in bowel habits, or have rectal bleeding, we recommend you see a doctor as soon as possible. Do not ignore serious symptoms hoping they are just hemorrhoids and will go away on their own. We have seen too many cases of people who ignore their symptoms until things progress or serious complications develop.
Beware: Is It Rectal Cancer Or Hemorrhoids
NICOLE GIBRAN, MD, PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN BURN ASSOCIATION, WITH JINAN ZHANG, TCMD, FOUNDER OF NAITCM
Early Detection Can Spot the Difference
During our years of clinical practice at the North American International Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment Centre, we have found that there is often confusion among patients about the difference between hemorrhoids and rectal cancer. This confusion is understandable because the symptoms of hemorrhoids and early rectal cancer are similar.
Since each condition requires a completely different treatment program, we feel it is important that people learn to tell the difference between the two conditions through education, self examination, and a visit to our clinic.
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Preparing For A Fecal Occult Blood Test
Although performed at home, some preparation is necessary for successful testing. Certain medications and foods can affect the results of the FOBT. As such, its important to follow common guidelines to ensure accurate results:
- Consult your doctor regarding the special diet. Certain foods affect test results, which is why its important to know foods that are permissible to eat. Raw fruits and vegetables are generally a no-go. Red meat such as beef and pork are usually banned by doctors for up to 72 hours before the test because blood in the meat may cause a false positive result
- Citric foods rich in Vitamin C may also alter the test. Stay away from foods and beverages with high vitamin C content
- Certain medication may interfere with the exam. Your doctor will put certain medicines on hold up to 72 hours before the exam
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Hemorrhoids And Colorectal Polyps Early Detection Increases Chances Of Being Successfully Cured
5 minute read
Hemorrhoids are the most common cause of rectal bleeding, but colorectal cancer can also cause rectal bleeding. Due to the similarity of manifestations, patients are often confused, leading to delayed diagnosis and ineffective treatments. Therefore being aware of the specific warning signs and symptoms results in early detection and appropriate treatments.
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Colorectal Cancer Vs Hemorrhoids
In other words, the symptoms of hemorrhoids are inconstant. You may find blood in your stool or on the toilet paper one day, but not the next. Moreover, the symptoms usually go away over time. Colon cancer, on the other hand, doesnt subside in the same way. Neither do the symptoms of colon cancer. Constant rectal bleeding is more often a sign of colorectal cancer than hemorrhoids.
Pain is another major differentiator between hemorrhoids and cancer. While hemorrhoids can cause pain, the rectal bleeding associated with hemorrhoids almost never does. If youre experiencing painful rectal bleeding, you may have something more serious than hemorrhoids.
Pain is usually associated with internal hemorrhoids, which are less common than external hemorrhoids.
What If You Get Colorectal Cancer
While every case is different, the good news is that surgery for both colon and rectal cancers can be highly successfuleven for many patients with advanced disease. While the treatment depends on the extent of the cancer, most patients will need surgery to remove the affected part of the colon. Some may need additional chemotherapy and some patients with rectal cancer may need radiation therapy, too. And some patients will need a colostomy, a procedure to connect the bowel to an opening in the abdomen for stool to pass through into a disposable bag. A colostomy may be temporary or permanent, depending on the surgery and, in some cases, the patient.
Surgery for rectal cancer is more highly specialized and intricate because of the location of rectal tumorsand the importance of preserving the ability to control bowel movements. Dr. Reddy says it’s important to choose a surgeon who has done many of these procedures.
Cancer is almost like an intruder in your house. It’s that level of threat.
Philana Gydricza, clinical social worker
Many patients worry about how cancer treatment will affect their appearance and sexualityespecially if they are single and hope to have a long-term relationship in their future.
Gydricza and other social workers do their best to make sure patients like this know they will be vital after treatment. We tell them they still can be very sexy and beautiful, she says.
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