The reason bowel cancer is often discovered at a late stage is because of the delicacy of the problem. People are embarrassed and do not want to go to the doctor with symptoms of this type of cancer. Such timidity, unfortunately, can cost them their lives. So what are the early signs of bowel cancer? How to understand for yourself that it is worth getting diagnosed by an oncologist?
What is cancer
Cancer is commonly referred to as all malignant tumors. But there are several varieties of them, the most dangerous of them is carcinoma, which means "crab" in Greek. But the following types of cancer also affect the intestines:
- adenocarcinoma;
- colloidal;
- cricoid cell;
- squamous.
Other undifferentiated forms of cancer may also occur.
At its core, cancer is the uncontrolled division of malignant cells, which leads to disturbances in the body, sometimes incompatible with life. But why is it sohappens that the body begins to literally kill itself?
Continuous cell division in the human body is normal. From the very beginning of a person's life, all types of cells in his body will constantly divide, first for growth, and then for renewal. But the specificity of the growth of cancer cells is that they begin to grow where nature does not intend, and this happens as a result of a failure.
Pathological growths of such cells are called tumors. They can be either benign or malignant. If a benign tumor begins to interfere with the life or he alth of a person, then it will simply be cut out. But with a malignant tumor, the situation is more complicated, it is capable of producing relapses and metastases. It is not so easy to get rid of it, and it is infinitely impossible to cut out tumors, especially since they grow inside the organs. Metastasis is the ability of cancer cells to "travel" throughout the body. There are three types of metastases:
- Implantation - grow into neighboring organs.
- Lymphagenic - "travel" through the lymph.
- Hematogenous - "travel" through the circulatory system.
How strong the metastases are and whether they stop reappearing depends on several factors. And one of the main ones is how early the cancer was discovered. If you start treatment at the first and even the second stage, then it is quite possible to save a person and allow him to live a long life. But on the third and fourth, this is possible only thanks to a miracle, and all the methods of treatment are aimed at fighting for extra years.life.
Features of bowel cancer
The intestine is a vital organ that is part of the digestive tract. Consists of the following segments:
- duodenum;
- rectum;
- caecum and appendix;
- colon;
- jejunum;
- ileum;
- sigmoid colon;
- colon.
Throughout its entire length, the intestines are lined from the inside with glandular epithelium. And neoplasms originate precisely on the cells of this epithelium. By implantation from the intestine, metastases most often penetrate into the following organs:
- womb (women);
- liver;
- stomach;
- ovaries (in women);
- prostate gland (in men).
The highest risk of colon cancer in people over 50 years of age. Most often, it affects such segments as the duodenum and rectum. The most unsuccessful for diagnosis and treatment is sigmoid colon cancer. The rarest location of a malignant neoplasm in the intestine is the caecum.
Often, malignant tumors of the intestine are reborn adenomatous polyps. Such a rebirth takes place on average over 7 years and is due to a genetic failure. It is imperative to understand that cancer is a hereditary disease, and if the parents had a history of intestinal cancer, then this is a reason to be periodically checked for this particular type of cancer.
Stages
Any cancerThe disease progresses in 4 stages. The TNM classification is accepted worldwide, according to which the stage of the tumor is determined by the following three indicators:
- The size of the tumor, which is measured in T (tumor).
- Presence/absence of metastases, measured in M (metastasis), where 0 is absent and 1 is present.
- The degree of germination into neighboring organs and tissues, measured in N (node).
After determining all three indicators, you can already set the stage:
- The appearance of a malignant neoplasm in the intestinal mucosa, its size is not more than 2 cm, there are no metastases yet.
- Formation exceeds the size of 2 cm, activation of the inflammatory process, the beginning of germination in the surrounding tissues.
- Active tumor growth, damage to nearby organs.
- The tumor reaches a huge size, metastases also become malignant and actively grow.
At stage 4, at some point, a tumor and metastases make a person's condition incompatible with life, and death occurs. Sometimes this can happen at stage 3, it all depends on the location of the neoplasm. How quickly the tumor moves from one stage to another is an individual moment. For someone, all three stages pass within just one year, while for someone only the first stage can last three or more years.
Stage 1 symptoms
One of the signs of bowel cancer in the early stages is the usual diarrhea or any other disorder of the gastrointestinal tract. It is them more oftenall and ignored, not connected in any way with the possibility of developing cancer.
But do not run to the oncologist with every diarrhea? No, chronic diarrhea and long-term discomfort even with proper nutrition should be cause for concern. Here is a complete list of early symptoms and signs of stage 1 bowel cancer:
- bloating and heaviness in the abdomen;
- dramatic weight loss or weight gain;
- lack of appetite;
- blood in feces;
- foamy chair;
- uncharacteristic for a person a quick feeling of fullness;
- unexplained constipation and diarrhea;
- changing chair color;
- general deterioration of well-being;
- signs of anemia for no proper reason.
An inexplicable increase in body temperature in the evenings and not only is also one of the first signs of bowel cancer and oncology in general.
At the first stage, there are no painful sensations yet, and intestinal problems, so similar to indigestion, are the only things that should suggest a diagnosis. For starters, you can try to palpate the intestines yourself. But it is better to trust a specialist who will prescribe the necessary tests. One of the signs will most likely be an accident, but if it is chronic or there are more than two of them, then it will not be superfluous to undergo a diagnosis. Those who are exposed to provoking factors should also pay attention to the he alth of their intestines. Six main factors increase the risk of developing cancer:
- age;
- chronic bowel disease accompanied byinflammatory processes;
- presence of benign neoplasms;
- predisposition;
- immunity weakening;
- exposure to carcinogens.
Clear signs of colon cancer are feces mixed with mucus. In the earliest stages, all these manifestations are almost imperceptible if you do not pay attention to it. But as the tumor grows, all symptoms will worsen. Yes, and well-being in general will begin to disturb. But the saddest thing is that the pain that makes you immediately run to the doctor usually appears already at the stage when it is almost impossible to save a life.
Early signs of bowel cancer in men
All the mentioned symptoms are typical for the male body. There are no specific signs and symptoms of bowel cancer for men. According to statistics, they are more likely to get bowel cancer than women, but due to the fact that they come into contact with harmful substances more often, they drink and smoke more, and not because of any physiological characteristics.
After 60, all men are at risk of prostate cancer, and this organ is located in close proximity to the intestines. Prostate cancer is one of the most metastatic cancers, and the bowel, along with the bladder and testicles, is the first target for metastasis.
For men, the diagnosis is complicated by the fact that they are psychologically not ready to go to the palpation of their intestines by someone else and drag it to the last. After 50, every man should make it a rule once a yearbe examined by a proctologist and urologist and take all the tests necessary to control the general state of he alth.
Early signs of bowel cancer in women
Women are particularly at risk during periods when they are undergoing hormonal changes. It happens to them at the following times:
- puberty;
- pregnancy;
- period and end of lactation;
- climax.
Any of these periods for women is a period of risk of starting or resuming the growth of malignant cells. And you need to look at all the symptoms to see if there are any.
One of the first symptoms and signs of bowel cancer in women is an aversion to food in general or certain types of food, such as spicy and red meat. Usually women take this not for an alarming symptom, but for a blessing. But it is worth remembering that if a woman has always had a good appetite and suddenly he suddenly disappeared, and the feeling of fullness comes faster than usual, then this is not a reason for joy, but for concern. Because in life there is something more important than a slim figure, for example, he alth and life.
Due to the different structure of the organs in the pelvic area, women have characteristic only for them early signs of bowel cancer. They are as follows:
- involuntary urination;
- pain during intercourse from the intestines;
- outflow of gases, urine and feces through the vagina.
But there are practically no pain receptors in the uterus, and therefore metastasis in thisbody will go unnoticed.
For women, bowel cancer is dangerous because due to the various hormonal processes that accompany them all their lives, they are used to discomfort in the pelvic and vaginal area. And the first signs of bowel cancer in women are in many ways similar to the signs of pregnancy. This makes it very difficult for women to be diagnosed early and places them at particular risk.
Diagnosis
If a patient is concerned about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer, they should immediately go to a proctologist-oncologist. First of all, at the reception, he will palpate, during which the doctor feels the intestines with his hands both from the outside and from the inside.
An oncologist with experience can determine the presence of a neoplasm with this method with a probability of 85%. But this does not apply to all segments of the intestine. It will be most reliable to supplement the diagnosis with professional methods. Today there are the following:
- Irrigoscopy is an x-ray examination of intestinal tissues, for which a barium solution is injected into it.
- Colonoscopy is a study of the intestine throughout its entire length using a colonoscope, the method of its introduction, for which the patient sits on hunger for some time.
- Retromanoscopy - a study using the introduction of a retromanoscope into the intestine to a depth of no more than 35 cm, this allows a good examination of the sigmoid colon.
- MRI - a three-dimensional study of the intestine, is not very revealing due to the large number of layers and bends in the organ, but inemergency situations may be necessary.
- Computed tomography - allows you to determine the etymology of the tumor, most often assigned to determine the nature of a neoplasm already found with the help of palpation.
Each of the methods shows something specific, because they are all relevant. But the most modern type of colon cancer diagnosis is colonoscopy. Only it allows you to check the presence of neoplasms along the entire length of such a long and winding organ as the intestines. For most methods, the patient will need to follow a diet for some time or refuse to eat at all. Many of them will require an enema with developer solution, which is safe for he alth.
In addition to these research methods, for accurate diagnosis, fecal masses are taken for the presence of blood in them, a general blood test for the presence of latent inflammations and a blood test for the presence of tumor markers.
Tumor markers
The name is a combination of two words: Greek ónkos - cargo and English mark - mark. A blood test for tumor markers shows the content of substances that growing cancerous tumors leave behind in the blood. There are more than 200 types of such tests under the general name "tumor markers".
A different analysis is needed for each organ, sometimes a combination of several may be needed. Theoretically, by donating blood for all types of tumor markers, you can find out if there is a cancerous tumor in the body, and if so, where is it. But the tests themselves are not cheap and it will not be easy to pass everything at once,yes, it's pointless. It is most adequate to take an analysis for oncomarkers with a specific suspicion. And you need to understand that the tumor does not always leave traces of decay in the blood. That is, you should not rely on only one such blood test. Most often, tests for tumor markers are used to monitor tumor recurrence.
What specific tests need to be taken and whether they need to be taken at all, the oncologist will say after a visual examination. For the intestine, this is usually CEA, SA 19-9, SA 242, Tu M2-RK, CYFRA 21-1, SCC, LASA-P. Not all tumor markers that indicate cancer in intestinal segments are listed. Some of them "specialize" in only one of the segments, while others only show that the tumor is in the intestine, without specifying a specific segment.
Treatment
Treatment when a malignant tumor is detected, it is necessary to start urgent and comprehensive. This is the only way to beat cancer.
If the tumor is detected at a very early stage, then attempts are made to stop its growth. For this, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used, strong hormonal drugs are prescribed. In some cases, this helps, and then the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer recede. Then all that remains to be done is to check whether a relapse has occurred, in order to begin treatment immediately in this case and again suppress the growth of the tumor in the bud. If a new tumor has not appeared within five years, then the patient is considered he althy.
But if the tumor has reached a serious size, then surgery is advisable. During it, eitherpart or entire segment of the intestine. The operation will be more successful if the intestines have been prepared in advance with a special diet. It is carried out either in an open way - laparotomy, or with the help of puncture holes - laparoscopy. The best cancer clinics are in Israel.
Prevention
For her, first of all, you need to lead a he althy lifestyle in order to strengthen the immune system, and secondly, not be exposed to radiation and carcinogens. The following guidelines will also help reduce your risk:
- Treat inflammatory diseases of the gastrointestinal tract to the end.
- Do not sit in one place for a long time, if the work is sedentary, then periodically get up and do a warm-up.
- Do not wear tight underwear or tight jeans.
- Know all the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer.
- Perform regular blood, urine and stool tests.
- Quit alcohol and tobacco.
- Don't overeat, try to limit your consumption of spicy food.
- Eat plenty of fiber-rich vegetables and grains.
- Be active, play sports.
- Keep proper drinking regimen and drink at least 2 liters of water per day.
There have been many studies that have confirmed that the indefatigable consumption of red meat with a small amount of fiber in the diet directly affects the risk of developing colon cancer.
