What is a Colon cancer – Bowel – Colorectal by Tweetanya

What is bowel cancer, you may ask yourself. This type of cancer is also known as colon and rectal cancer or colorectal cancer. It is one of the most common types of cancer that affects about 150,000 individuals per year. Hopefully, this number will go down over time as individuals become more aware of this disease and how to prevent it.  
Bowel cancer is when an individual gets an  uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells in the bowels of the body sometimes very rapidly. The parts of the body that are associated with the bowel are the colon, a long tube connecting the small intestine with the rectum, the rectum itself and the appendix.  The colon is a long tube connecting the small intestine with the rectum.

In most cases this cancer develops from things calledpolyps. Polyps are tiny tumors that show up in the lining of the colon and the rectal tubes. Luckily most of these polyps are benign and will not lead to cancer. A few of these polyps may actually have the potential to turn into cancer. These are called adenomatous polyps. Also research indicates that  larger polyps carry a higher risk of turning into cancer. However even though you may have polyps in your bowel, it does not mean you will get cancer, it just means that you are at a higher risk of getting cancer.

There are also other factors that can increase the risk of bowel cancer. Some of these factors are family history of the condition, other diseases of the colon and rectum, such as Crohn’s disease, and history of certain types of surgery, such as the removal of the gallbladder. Another high risk factor is  a diet high in fat  and one that is lacking in fiber. Also like a fair amount of cancers, it seems that smoking also will increase your risk. Also the older you get, the higher you are at risk of getting this type of cancer. This is especially true for individuals over the age of 50.

At the early onset of bowel cancer, there are not really many symptoms to help indentify that it is occurring in the body. However there are some symptoms that will show up later and these should not be ignored but they should be discussed with your doctor. One change that definitely should not be ignored is a sudden and persistent change in your bowel movements.  There are usually no symptoms at the early stages of the development of bowel cancer. However, the condition has some serious warning signs that should not be ignored. These include constipation and diarrhea, being unable to empty the bowel completely and feeling an urgency to move the bowel are also warning signs. Other indicators are rectal cramping and rectal bleeding. You should also look for changes in your stool. If you see dark patches of blood in the stool, this is a serious warning sign. Another stool in indication is the presence  of long thin pencil like stools. Other indicators are bloating, unexplained weight loss, pelvic pain and fatigue. If you have any of these symptoms, you should go to the doctor to discuss it with them.

There are some things that you can do to prevent bowel cancer. First you should learn to start eating more fruits and vegetables. You also should ensure that you are getting enough exercise. Also as recommended by your doctor, you should make sure that you are getting regular screenings. Just remember, that you should consult with your doctor prior to making any diet changes or beginning an exercise program.

There are various methods which you can adopt to reduce your risk of getting bowel cancer. Having a healthier diet, rich in vegetables and fruits and not abundant in red meats, is highly recommended. The consumption of fiber-rich foods is quite beneficial. This is applicable to exercising regularly as well. Perhaps the best method for prevention is to have regular screening that includes testing of the stool and possibly colonoscopy, if you are at higher risk of developing the condition.