Colon and Rectum Cancer

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The American Cancer Society estimates that over 100,000 men and women living in the United States will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2013. Statistically, cancers of the colon and rectum are often combined and referred to as colorectal cancer. This addition brings the total to over 140,000 affected individuals with over 50,000 of these diagnoses resulting in death (American cancer society, 2013). Globally, the impact of this disease reached over one million people in 2008 with over 600,000 deaths attributed to colorectal cancer (Dusek, Maluskova, & Musik, 2013).
Colon cancer is preventable with a healthy diet, exercise, and curable with regular bowel exams. However, signs and symptoms of colon cancer usually do not present until the cancer is advanced which results in a less favorable prognosis. Routine colon screens may lead to a diagnosis at an early stage in the progression and can reduce the number of deaths from this disease even when the individual is genetically predisposed to colon cancer (Colon cancer, 2013).
The colon is an integral part of the digestive system. It consists of the last five or six feet of the intestines. There are four layers of tissue that make up the colon. The mucosa, submucosa, muscular layer and the serosa. Matter moves through the lumen small intestine rather quickly and the majority of nutrients are absorbed. Then, the waste travels slowly through the lumen of the colon where water is absorbed and fiber is broken down by bacteria. This process forms the fecal matter that is then stored in the colon until peristaltic waves of smooth muscle continue the motility toward the rectum and anus for defecation (Butler, Lewis, & Shier, 2013)
Certain factors increase an individuals risk of the epithel...

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...n tumor for a duration of time to prevent a relapse of the disease from occurring (McCartney & Oberleitner, 2011).
Colon cancer can be a fatal disease, or it can be stopped before it even begins. A healthy preventative diet of lean meats and foods high in fiber accompanied be a physically active lifestyle can reduce the risk of this disease forming in the colon. Prevention strategies also must include routine colonocsopies for those at risk either through age or history. This early detection tool is crucial for providing insight to the current condition of the colon.
If colon cancer is inevitable the individuals who undergo regular bowel screens have a better prognosis than those who do not. Waiting for symptoms to appear often reduces the rate of remission. However, effective treatments are available for all stages of colon cancer and the result is a longer life.

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