Bowel Cancer – Diagnosis, Treatment, Symptoms, and Side Effects
Whether you’re a patient or a caretaker, you’ll want to learn about the diagnosis and treatment options for bowel cancer. This article will address the diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, and side effects.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bowel cancer vary depending on the location of cancer. They can include abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and blood in the stool. If you have these symptoms, it’s important to seek medical attention. However, it’s important to remember that they may also be a symptom of other health conditions.
Bowel cancer is a disease that develops in the lining of the colon. Cancer may also occur in the liver or lymph nodes. Usually, the cancer is slow-growing and does not spread very quickly.
Bowel cancer is diagnosed through a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. During the test, the doctor will look for signs of cancer such as polyps. Polyps are small growths of cells in the bowel that may turn into cancer over time. The doctor may remove them during the test.
Bowel cancer can also be accompanied by bleeding from the rectum. Never ignore bleeding from the rectum, as it is a serious symptom.
Other symptoms include a decrease in appetite, diarrhea, or constipation. If the cancer is in the upper part of the intestine, you may experience a feeling of bloating. You may also feel short of breath.
Bowel cancer is very curable and can be treated if it is caught early. Treatment includes surgery or chemotherapy, which reduces the chances that cancer will recur. Some people also receive radiation therapy. In some cases, radiation therapy is used in combination with chemotherapy.
Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women. It can be deadly, but it is curable. You can prevent it by undergoing a screening test. You can also find out more about bowel cancer by visiting the Cancer Council. It also offers a fact sheet about the disease. If you are concerned about your symptoms, you can also join a bowel cancer support group. The group is designed to help you understand the symptoms and side effects, as well as talk about how to manage them.
If you have a family history of bowel cancer, you should take a screening test. The risk of developing bowel cancer is increased with age.
Diagnosis
Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatment may include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery. The choice will depend on the patient’s general health and preferences.
Molecular testing can check for gene mutations, which may be present in bowel cancer cells. A biopsy of the affected tissue is also performed to determine the stage of the disease. The biopsy results help the medical team plan the best treatment.
For some people, bowel cancer treatment will include chemotherapy. These drugs affect rapidly dividing cells and reach cancer cells throughout the body. Chemotherapy may also be used after surgery.
Colectomy (also known as large bowel resection) is a surgery performed to remove a portion of the colon. It is performed using either open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. It can also involve the removal of lymph nodes near the colon.
The main aim of surgery is to remove as much cancer as possible. Colectomy is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon makes a single incision of 15 cm in the lower abdominal wall. The remaining part of the bowel is joined together and a stoma is created to allow waste to leave the body.
Treatment for bowel cancer may also involve radiation. Radiotherapy destroys cancer cells by exposing them to high levels of radiation. The treatment is given daily for five weeks. It is followed by a 12-week break from treatment.
For people who are older, bowel cancer screening is available every two years. A guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBt) is used to detect bowel cancer. This test collects three bowel motion samples. They are then tested for hidden blood in the stool. The test results take a few days to be returned. If the sample is positive, the patient is invited to attend a screening practitioner’s consultation.
The most common treatment for bowel cancer is surgery. Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are procedures that look for polyps and adenomas. They are also used to check for other features of the bowel such as tumors. The sigmoidoscope is a flexible tube that is inserted into the lower bowel and attached to a small camera.
Treatment options
Choosing the right treatment for bowel cancer depends on the stage of the disease. Early-stage bowel cancer can be treated by surgery or chemotherapy. For advanced bowel cancer, targeted therapies are usually used. These targeted therapies can help slow down the progression of the disease.
During surgery, doctors will cut the colon or rectum above or below the cancerous tumor. They will then sew the two ends together. This procedure removes as much cancer as possible.
The bowel is a vital part of the digestive system, which plays a crucial role in breaking down food. It is also responsible for waste elimination. In most cases, cancer begins as a single polyp. These polyps may turn into cancer over time.
Colectomy is a procedure that removes part of the large bowel, the anus, and lymph nodes nearby the bowel. This procedure is usually performed as a temporary measure. It may require a partial colectomy in cases where a significant amount of the colon must be removed.
Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells. Patients usually receive treatment in multiple sessions called cycles. Most patients complete the course of treatment in four to six months.
Chemotherapy involves the use of a range of drugs that target cancer. These drugs are delivered in cycles and patients have a period of rest between infusions. Chemotherapy can help control the growth of cancer and prolong life. However, it can also cause different adverse reactions.
Patients may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This is a highly effective treatment for advanced bowel cancer. During treatment, patients may experience mouth ulcers, numbness of the extremities, and digestive problems.
Treatment options for bowel cancer can also include targeted therapy, which targets the genes that promote the growth of cancer. Targeted therapies may be used as a stand-alone treatment, but they are often used in combination with chemotherapy.
If you have bowel cancer, talk to your doctor about the options available for your treatment. Your doctor will work with a team of experts to provide you with a treatment plan that suits your needs.
Side effects
Getting the right information and understanding the side effects of bowel cancer can make a huge difference in your treatment. This will enable you to make more informed decisions and get the best treatment possible. If you are diagnosed with bowel cancer, you may feel scared and confused. You may also be worried about the side effects of bowel cancer and your future. You can talk to your doctor about your treatment options, how to deal with scarring, and learn to cope with the changes in your body.
Some side effects of bowel cancer may last for a long time. These side effects may affect your quality of life and self-esteem. These changes in your body may affect your relationships and lead to a decrease in your confidence.
Getting the right treatment for bowel cancer will help you improve your quality of life. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and systemic medication. These can help you to shrink the tumor and reduce the chance that cancer will come back.
When bowel cancer is detected early, it is usually curable. However, it can still spread to other parts of the body. This means that it may be difficult to treat. This means you may need to have regular screening. If you do, the Cancer Council will provide you with information and support.
It is important to have a bowel health booklet to learn about your condition. It will tell you what symptoms to look out for and what you can do to prevent them.
You may also need to change your diet and get advice on how to manage your bowel habits. You may also need to have chemotherapy before surgery.
Surgery is the most common form of treatment for bowel cancer. It will remove as much cancer as possible. It may be performed as an open or keyhole surgery.
Your doctor will recommend a treatment plan based on the type of bowel cancer you have and where it is located in your body. They will also consider your health, your preferences, and whether or not you are likely to respond well to the treatment.
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