Timely Diagnosis of Large Intestine (Colon) Polyps and Cancers is Important

<p>The colon and rectum are part of the digestive system; they form a long, muscular tube called the large intestine. The colon is the first 140 - 150 cm of the large intestine and the rectum the remaining 15 cm. Partially digested food enters the colon through the small intestine. The colon extracts water and nutrients from food and turns the rest into waste (feces). After most of the food has been digested, the remaining waste reaches the colon. The main function of the colon is to absorb water. The waste passes through the colon into the rectum and is then excreted from the body through the anus.</p> <p>Colon and rectal cancer is the 4th most common cancer among all cancers after prostate, breast and lung cancer. ranks first. 90% occur after the age of 50.</p> <p>Twenty-five percent of colon cancers are located in the cecum and ascending colon, 15 percent in the transverse colon, 5 percent in the descending colon, 25 percent in the sigmoid colon, 10 percent in the rectosigmoid junction and 20 percent in the rectum.</p> <p>Tumors in the proximal colon are more polypoid and tend to grow towards the lumen and obstruction is not common. Distally located cancers show a more annular infiltration and obstruction develops more frequently.</p> <p>Chronic blood loss in right colon cancers can lead to anemia, weakness, fatigue and weight loss in patients.</p> <p>Left colon cancers are more prone to obstruction because the diameter of the left colon is narrower, the tumors are more infiltrative and the stool consistency is more solid.</p> <p>Considering that the 5-year survival rate in colon and rectal cancers is 90% in early stages and drops to 5% in advanced stages, the importance of early diagnosis and screening programs becomes evident.</p> <p>The scanning options are:</p> <p>Fecal occult blood (FEC) once a year, flexible sigmoidoscopy (FS) every 5 years, FS every 5 years with FEC once a year, or colonoscopy every 10 years is recommended.</p> <p>Polyps are growths that develop as a result of abnormal growth of the layer (mucosa) covering the surface of the large intestine (colon and rectum) and grow into the intestinal canal (lumen).</p> <p>It is one of the most common diseases of the large intestine. Polyps can be observed in 15-20% of adults. Over the age of 50, this rate reaches 40-50%.</p> <p>Polyps can form in different ways. Some polyps are flat (sessile or sessile), while others are attached to the intestinal wall by a stalk (sessile polyp).</p> <p>Polyps are also classified according to their size. Those smaller than 5 mm are called small polyps (diminutive polyps), those between 5-10 mm are called medium-sized polyps and those larger than 10 mm are called large-sized polyps.</p> <p>In addition to their shape and size, polyps are also classified according to their behavior. Some polyps may only form as a lump in the intestine and do not have any harmful effects on the body. These are called benign polyps. Some polyps can multiply, grow and develop into cancer. These polyps are called malignant polyps (malignant polyps).</p> <p>In addition, polyps can be single or multiple in the large intestine. When the intestines of patients with one polyp in the large intestine are examined completely, polyps can be found in other parts of the intestine. Some patients may have dozens of polyps in the intestine. Some patients develop hundreds of polyps in the large intestine. This condition is called "Polyposis syndromes - FAP - Familial Polyposis Coli - Familial Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Syndrome".</p> <p>More than 90% of colon cancers develop on the background of polyps. But not all polyps are cancerous. Polyps form in the large intestine (colon and rectum) as a result of irregular cell growth. It should not be forgotten that some of these polyps may develop cancer with changes that occur over a long period of time. It takes about 8-10 years for a polyp to become cancerous.</p> <p>Polyps are therefore considered to be precursors of cancer. Polyps must be removed because it is not possible to determine which polyps will become cancerous without tissue examination (pathological examination). Removal of polyps in the large intestine is very important in the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of colon cancer.</p> <p>Normally, about 20% of people around the age of 50 have polyps. The incidence of polyps increases with increasing age. Therefore, risk factors and screening tests are based on this information. We can say that the transformation from polyp to cancer takes roughly 8 years. This determines when and how often screening tests should be performed.</p> <p>The likelihood of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. More than 90 percent of people with this disease are diagnosed after the age of 50.</p> <p>People with a history of colorectal cancer are more likely to have close relatives (parents, siblings or children) with the disease, especially if they had cancer at a young age. This risk is greater if more than one relative has a history of colorectal cancer.</p> <ul> <li>Diarrhea or constipation,</li> <li>Feeling that your bowels are not emptying completely and frequent defecation,</li> <li>Blood in the stool (very light or dark),</li> <li>Your stool is thinner than usual,</li> <li>Frequent gas pains and cramps or a feeling of fullness and bloating,</li> <li>Unexplained weight loss,</li> <li>Feeling tired all the time,</li> <li>Nausea and vomiting,</li> </ul> <p>Often, these symptoms are not due to cancer. Other health problems can also show the same symptoms. Anyone with these symptoms should consult a doctor as early as possible to be diagnosed and treated.</p> <p>Usually cancer does not cause pain in the early stages. It is very important not to wait for pain to go to the doctor.</p> <p>Symptoms and signs vary depending on where the cancer is located in the large intestine. In colon cancer symptoms, cancers located on the left side of the large intestine (close to the anus) often complain of stools mixed with blood. Patients complain of changes in bowel habits, often constipation. Other symptoms include inability to relax after defecation, abdominal pain (especially in the lower left side) and excessive gas and bloating.</p> <p>The most common symptom on the right side of the large intestine (near its junction with the small intestine) is hidden (unnoticed) blood loss with stool. Patients come to the doctor with complaints of anemia and weakness due to this bleeding, which cannot be noticed visually. Excessive fatigue, inability to work as before and shortness of breath may also occur. Another important finding is a change in bowel habits. Occasional episodes of constipation and/or diarrhea. During this period, abdominal pain, bloating and excessive gas may occur in addition to these symptoms.</p> <p>These signs and symptoms can also be observed in other diseases. Therefore, a detailed examination is necessary for a definitive diagnosis. Abdominal pain and weight loss are often late symptoms indicating widespread disease. Many polyps and cancers are asymptomatic. For this reason, patients usually consult a doctor at an advanced stage of the disease. Abdominal pain and weight loss are often late symptoms that indicate advanced disease.</p> <p>It should not be forgotten that early diagnosis and treatment of colon and rectal polyps that cause large intestine tumors is of great importance. Early diagnosis of colon tumors is always life-saving. Timely screening tests and especially rectal bleeding should be taken seriously.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Updated: Jan 17, 2023, 11:05</p> <p>This content has been published with the approval of Atakent Health Group Medical Editorial Board. The content published on the page is prepared with scientific data at the time of registration and is for informational purposes only. There is no content on curative health care. Please consult your physician for accurate diagnosis and treatment.</p>