Most cancers of the colon develop from polyps (fleshy growths) in the intestine. The majority of these polyps are harmless but some become become cancerous. If left untreated the cancer in these polyps spreads to the colon and in the worst cases other areas of the body too.

Unfortunately it is not known what causes these polyps to become cancerous but there are a number of associated colon cancer risks. Age is a major risk factor with over three quarters of bowel cancers occurring in people who are over 60 years old. Diet is another significant bowel cancer risk factor with excessive consumption of red meats and alcohol and a low fibre intake all linked to the development of this cancer. Other factors that increase your risk of contracting this cancer include a family history of the disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, a lack of exercise and smoking.

If cancer does develop it is often accompanied by a number of symptoms. These colon cancer symptoms are often quite mild in the beginning but get worse as the cancer grows. Some of the symptoms are directly associated with the growth of the cancer and include abdominal pain, bloody stools, changing bowel movements and rectal bleeding. Rectal bleeding in particular is one of the most common symptoms so if you notice any bleeding from this area you should consult your doctor immediately. Other less obvious symptoms include unexplained tiredness and weight loss.

If you suspect that you have bowel cancer based on the above symptoms you should consult your doctor immediately. They will then be able to perform the necessary tests. The first test is usually a rectal exam where your doctor will feel for any lumps or swollen polyps using a gloved finger. Your doctor may then recommend a colonoscopy, which involves the passing of a small fibre optic camera into your anus, so that they can visual examine your colon.

Surgery is the most common treatment for bowel cancer with the procedure attempting to extract the cancerous cells from the colon and then stitch it back together. Chemotherapy (the use of anti-cancer medications) and radiotherapy (the use of high energy radiation beams) are sometimes used as colon cancer treatments but are more commonly used to help shrink the cancerous cells prior to surgery and then to reduce the risk of the cancer returning after surgery.

Although this cancer can be treated, prevention is a much more attractive and uncomplicated option, plus it is not that difficult It simply involves making a few positive lifestyle changes. Exercising regularly is believed to reduce your risk by as much as 40%. Reducing your red meat and alcohol intake whilst eating more fruits, vegetables and other fibre rich foods can also help prevent colon cancer. Giving up smoking is another important lifestyle change for the prevention of both bowel cancer and other cancers too.

Cancer is a status of diseases characterized by out-of-control cell growth. Near are in excess of 100 dissimilar types of cancer and both is classified by the type of cell with the aim of is to begin with affected. On behalf of instance, cancer with the aim of begins in the sphere of the colon is called colon cancer. Both type of cancer is unique with its own causes, symptoms, and methods of conduct.

Cancer cells habitually categorize or else stomp in sync to form tumors. A growing swelling becomes a lump of cancer cells with the aim of can demolish the regular cells around the swelling and wound the body’s healthy tissues. These growths are considered either kind or else spiteful. Kind is considered non-cancerous and spiteful is cancerous. Kind tumors rarely are life threatening and accomplish not smear to other parts of the body. They can often survive distant.

Cancer types can survive grouped into broader categories. The chief categories of cancer include:

1. Carcinoma – Cancer with the aim of begins in the sphere of the skin or else in the sphere of tissues with the aim of line or else cover interior organs.

2. Sarcoma – Cancer with the aim of begins in the sphere of bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or else other connective or else supportive tissue.

3. Leukemia – Cancer with the aim of starts in the sphere of blood-forming tissue such to the same degree the bone center and causes hefty records of abnormal blood cells to survive produced and enter the blood.

4. Lymphoma and myeloma – Cancers with the aim of commence in the sphere of the cells of the immune procedure.

5. Central anxious procedure cancers – Cancers with the aim of commence in the sphere of the tissues of the head and spinal cord.

On occasion cancer cells break away from the creative swelling and travel to other areas of the body, someplace they keep growing and can die on to form new to the job tumors. This is how cancer spreads. They affect the blood and the organs with the aim of form blood and followed by invade nearby tissues. The smear of a swelling to a new to the job place in the sphere of the body is called metastasis. Whilst cancer has metastasis and has affected other areas of the body, the disease is still referred to the organ of inauguration.