An Overview of Colorectal Cancer

 Colorectal cancer (also referred to as colon cancer) is cancer that originates from either the colon or rectum. Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States per year. The colon and rectum make up the final pathway of the gastrointestinal tract; the colon is divided into four sections, the ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid colon. The sigmoid colon then meets the rectum. 

Colorectal cancer can have many vague symptoms, but the most notable is a change in bowel movements (reoccurring or persistent diarrhea, constipation, or incontinence), anemia which has no other apparent cause, and blood in the stool. More vague symptoms include abdominal pain and unexplained weight loss. Doctors work to diagnose colorectal cancer by requesting blood tests and colonoscopies. It is extremely important to find colorectal cancer at an early stage, this can be manifested in the body like colon polyps. Colon polyps are abnormal tissue growth in the colon, similar to cysts or benign tumours. A polyp if left untreated can become cancerous. 

Although colorectal cancer can occur at any stage in life, it’s more common in patients over 50 years of age. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to schedule regular colon screenings, practice proper nutrition, and stay active. Colon screenings are able to detect colon polyps and can be removed during the screening stage to prevent any further development. Nutrition is especially important as diet directly impacts your gastrointestinal health. Ensuring that your diet has an adequate amount of fibre, whole foods, and good quality fats is imperative in preventing colorectal cancer. Obesity is also a factor that puts one at risk for developing colorectal cancer, so staying active and getting exercise in any way will have positive impacts on your overall health. 

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