Bowel cancer is divided into large and small bowel cancer and is a disease caused by irregular division of cells.
Bowel cancer is among the most common cancers. There are many factors that cause bowel cancer.
Symptoms ofbowel cancer can be said to be symptoms of cancer that negatively affect the life of the individual and help to make a diagnosis.
What are the Symptoms of Bowel Cancer?
- Symptoms of bowel cancer;
- Changes in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation)
- Persistent, sometimes severe abdominal pain
- Abdominal cramps
- Blood in the stool
- Feeling of incomplete bowel emptying
- Inability to go to the toilet even when needed
- Gas problem in the intestines
- Slimy discharge
- Loss of appetite
- Unexplained weight loss
- Change in skin color
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Fatigue
- Powerlessness
Symptoms of bowel cancer are seen as anemia, weakness and fatigue when the cancer progresses. In the initial stages, these symptoms may not be observed. Since the symptoms of bowel cancer are considered normal, there may be no need to see a doctor. Therefore, it is very susceptible to progression. Bowel cancer symptoms should be taken into consideration and treated.
Causes of Bowel Cancer
- Intense stress
- Family history of bowel cancer, genetic factors
- Excessive smoking and alcohol use
- Unbalanced and irregular nutrition
- Not consuming foods rich in vitamins and minerals
- Excessive consumption of raw meat products such as sausage and salami
- Living in unhygienic environments
- Consuming food without washing it clean
- Excessive consumption of processed (packaged, long-lasting) foods
- Large intestine polyps
- Advanced age (over 50 years)
- Overweight (obesity)
- A sedentary lifestyle
- Inflammatory bowel diseases
- Exposure to radiation, radiotherapy for other cancers
It is among the causes of bowel cancer.
How is Bowel Cancer Diagnosed?
When symptoms of bowel cancer are seen, help from a specialist should be sought to make a diagnosis. Because early diagnosis is very important. The specialist can make the diagnosis by examining with a colonoscopy and taking a sample (biopsy) to examine the intestine when necessary. A colonoscopy involves entering through the anus and visualizing the intestines with a camera. A complete blood count is another diagnostic tool. Anemia is determined by this blood test. Anemia, which is among the symptoms of bowel cancer, can be decisive in the diagnosis stage. Imaging methods (MRI, CT, Ultrasonography) are also used when necessary to visualize whether the cancerous cell has spread to other organs.
Bowel Cancer Treatment
Bowel cancer treatment starts after diagnosis. Surgical operation, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are the procedures applied in bowel cancer treatment. Bowel cancer treatment varies according to the stages and in each patient.
Surgery is the removal of the cancer cell from the patient's body.
Chemotherapy is a medicated treatment to shrink cancer cells and prevent them from spreading.
Radiotherapy is radiation therapy to shrink cancer cells and prevent them from spreading. It can be applied before or after the diagnosis of bowel cancer.
Follow-up is important after bowel cancer treatment. Cancer has a structure that can reproduce or form in different organs. Therefore, it should be taken into consideration when symptoms of bowel cancer are observed again. Scans should be continued at certain intervals. Thus, the re-occurrence of cancer can be prevented.
Bowel cancer can occur for many reasons. In addition to its diagnosis, the cause should also be investigated. Because these causes must also be corrected with the treatment. Bowel cancer manifests itself in some way. These symptoms include abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea and constipation, abdominal bloating, painful defecation, bleeding in the stool, feeling that the intestines are not completely empty. Early diagnosis is important in bowel cancer. Because as the cancer progresses, it becomes more difficult to treat. Therefore, individuals at risk should undergo periodic screenings for early diagnosis. This is important both for prevention and early diagnosis.
Bowel cancer is surgically removed from the body. Make sure that the cancerous tissue is thoroughly removed. Because the remaining cancerous tissue can grow again and spread to other places. After surgery, the patient receives chemotherapy. This is a medication treatment that is used to kill the cancerous cells and prevent them from growing and spreading. Chemotherapy treatment varies according to the stages of bowel cancer. Chemotherapy can also be administered before and after the operation. Another method is radiotherapy (radiation therapy). It is aimed to destroy cancerous tissues and protect healthy tissues at the same time. Depending on the patient's condition, the method to be used varies and is planned and applied by specialists.
