Colon cancer
Colorectal cancer (colon cancer)
When colon cancer is a malignant growth of cells of the intestinal mucosa in the colon.
What is colon cancer?
At least one of 20 German suffering in his life to cancer, ie cancer of the colon or rectum. This is cancer in women after breast cancer and in men after lung cancer is the second most common type of cancer. When colon cancer is a malignant proliferation of cells of the colonic mucosa, partially offset by a degeneration of initially benign growths in the intestinal mucosa – created – the so-called adenomatous polyps (adenomas).
The colon begins in the right lower abdomen, where it joins the small intestine and ends at the anus. It is divided into several sections: the so-called cecal (cecum) to the appendix and the colon (colon) to which is connected to the end or back passage (rectum). As colon cancer tumors only be referred to, which lie between the caecum and the beginning of the rectum. Cancer of the rectum is called rectal cancer in technical language. The diagnosis and therapy of these tumors differs partially from that of colon cancer.
The main task of the colon is the recycled already in the small intestine to transport nutritional stock slurry to the rectum and thereby deprive him of water. In the rectum the stool is stored until thickened bowel movement.
In order to match the therapy to the cancer assessment, the doctor, how different the cancer cells from the original cells of the intestinal mucosa, and how far the cancer has already spread on a direct path into the adjacent tissue or blood and lymphatic vessels to distant organs . By the bloodstream to reach cancer cells in the liver and lungs first. Therefore, in the case caused a Metastatic cancer (metastases) that usually there first, before cancer cells settle in other organs.
Important Note:
This article provides general information only and should not be used for self diagnosis or treatment. It can not replace a doctor’s visit. The answer individual questions from our experts is not possible.