How to recognize colorectal cancer in men?

24.10.2018 15:53:43

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How does colon cancer manifest?
Symptoms of colon cancer are varied and may appear depending on the extent of the tumor process (stage of cancer) and its location.

The patient can pay attention to such symptoms of intestinal cancer

as changes in the function of the gastrointestinal tract: changes in the rhythm of bowel movements, the occurrence of constipation or, conversely, diarrhea. Some patients complain of constipation being replaced by diarrhea, and a sensation of a foreign body in the rectum. The feces may also change: mucus, blood, and pus may appear. A large number of patients experience abdominal pain.

If inflammation develops in the tumor area, pain may be accompanied by muscle tension in the anterior abdominal wall, increased body temperature, and leukocytosis, which in some cases is mistakenly diagnosed as acute appendicitis or cholecystitis, which leads to unjustified appendectomy or cholecystectomy. When the intestinal lumen is obstructed by a tumor, intestinal obstruction may develop, which is manifested by abdominal pain, stool and gas retention, bloating and asymmetry of the abdomen, and vomiting.

These are the signs of bowel cancer

, such as anemia, weight loss, weakness, appear in the later stages of the process. Now let's take a closer look at the symptoms and manifestations of intestinal cancer at different stages.

Definition and statistics

Rectal cancer is becoming increasingly common among residents of developed countries. Despite the development of medicine, the number of people presenting to hospitals with similar symptoms is steadily growing. Statistics from the last few years show a sad trend. Every ten years is accompanied by an increase in the number of cases by ten percent.

Young people are less susceptible to cancer. In fifty percent of patients in the older and middle age categories, intestinal cancer has negative consequences.

In most cases, victims of the disease are men and women who have passed the age of forty-five. Gender does not play a critical role. Oncological damage to the intestine occurs in young people under the age of thirty. Such cases are less than ten percent.

Organ system disorders

Often the development of cancer is accompanied by problems with organs that at first glance are not related to it. Since carcinoma has a strong destructive effect on the body as a whole, the consequences of such influence can be traced at all levels of the body.

Patients diagnosed with colon cancer often complain of:

• frequent headaches, migraines;
• arthritis and other joint diseases;
• shortness of breath, breathing problems;
• arrhythmia, cardiac dysfunction, rapid pulse;
• decreased immunity and susceptibility to various diseases.

As already mentioned, in 90% of patients, upon receiving the results of laboratory tests, all the characteristic signs of anemia were identified. Anemia was accompanied by low hemoglobin values, high levels of white blood cells, and all patients complained of malaise, fatigue and drowsiness. The test results could clearly indicate hidden inflammatory processes in the body. Upon visual examination, pallor of the skin was noted.

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Some specialists may not pay attention to certain abnormalities in organ systems and may not connect this with a possible diagnosis for some reason. Statistics show that colon cancer is much more common in men than in women. At the same time, men over 40 years of age are more at risk, but cases have also been reported in the age group from 20 to 30 years. For these reasons, due to the accumulated chronic diseases and disorders, the clinical picture can be quite blurred, which makes it difficult to make a timely diagnosis.

Types of rectal cancer

There is a classification that divides the growth of malignant intestinal tumors into several groups. The criterion is the position relative to the intestinal wall. The varieties are presented below:

• Mixed. Combines the characteristics of the varieties described below;
• Exophytic. In this case, the tumor forms in the right side of the cecum and colon. Tissues affected by the disease protrude into the lumen of the organ;
• Endophytic. This type is characterized by neoplasms on the left side of the intestine. In most cases, tumors grow through the wall of the organ.

Bowel cancer is always characterized by excessive deformation of the affected area.

Bowel cancer treatment

How to treat colon or rectal cancer is determined by the doctor, based on the diagnostic results and the individual characteristics of the patient’s body. Treatment of intestinal cancer is carried out through surgery, which involves radical removal of the tumor and part of the surrounding tissue.

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used as auxiliary methods. With the right treatment method, it is possible to extend the life of a patient with stage 4 cancer for a significant period (3-5 years). Combining methods increases the chances of patient survival.

Tumor removal surgery, which has a number of techniques, can radically cure cancer:

• Removal of the tumor and lymph nodes using a high-frequency knife.
• The operation is performed through small incisions in the abdominal wall.
• Traditional methods of removing the affected area.

Reasons for appearance

To date, the world community has not identified a clear list of causes of colorectal cancer. Despite this, a list of stimulating factors has been compiled. They are presented below:

• Regular nutrition with low-quality foods containing a large number of proteins, fats and other negative elements. The lack of plant fiber has a detrimental effect on the process of assimilation of such products. Consequently, stagnation regularly forms in the gastrointestinal tract, leading to constipation and bloating. All this gradually destroys the mechanical structure of the organ through excessive feces;
• Genetic predisposition. In this case, preventing the disease is quite difficult. If a disease is detected in one of the family members, it is recommended that all relatives be included in the risk group for subsequent regular examinations;
• The formation and progression of inflammation or tumors in the intestines. In most cases, intestinal cancer is the result of a large number of different pathologies. Among them it is worth highlighting adenomas, polyps, Crohn's disease and chronic ulcerative colitis. Often diseases do not have negative consequences at an early stage. However, prolonged existence in the body provokes the development of cancer.

Causes of bowel cancer

• heredity;
• age;
• smoking;
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• abuse of fatty foods of animal origin;
• Crohn's disease;
• presence of polyps;
• nonspecific ulcerative colitis;
• low mobility;
• exhaust gases, air dust;
• low quality products.

In order to detect and prevent the development of rectal pathologies in time, it is necessary to regularly conduct routine examinations of the intestines.

First symptoms

The signs of bowel cancer are not as significant as those of other cancers. Often they are completely absent, which is why the patient wastes precious time in vain. In the early stages, treatment is much easier.

In the world community, many doctors are guided by theory. It says that malignant tumors in the initial stages secrete a large number of painkillers. Until the critical moment, camouflage works well, leaving the affected organ unattended.

The first symptoms of rectal cancer are usually classified into several groups, each of which is described below.

Dyspeptic. Characteristic signs of this symptom are all sorts of digestive disruptions:

1. Vomiting;
2. Regular nausea;
3. Taste of bile in the mouth and the appearance of acid belching;
4. Constant heartburn.

Enterocolitic. The syndrome is characteristic of diseases occurring in the left region of the intestine. Its characteristic features are considered to be:

1. Regular bloating;
2. Frequent fermentation of food coma;
3. The appearance of prolonged constipation or diarrhea;
4. Difficulty in the formation of feces.

Stenotic. The main symptom of this syndrome is the difficult process of passing feces. The rectum becomes blocked completely or partially due to the formation of a growth. This provokes severe pain and the release of blood masses. The appearance of the stool often changes.

If the necessary treatment is not provided in a timely manner, the intestines will be completely blocked.

Pseudospastic. Bowel cancer characterized by this symptom is the most severe. A person’s body temperature rises sharply, pain and other signs of intoxication appear. Subsequent involvement of the peritoneal layers leads to the progression of peritonitis. Rectal cancer has a negative impact on organs in the immediate vicinity. All this leads to the following deviations:

1. Urination is accompanied by the release of bloody masses;
2. Blood and mucus are discharged from the vagina;
3. Urination is accompanied by pain;
4. The menstrual cycle in women is disrupted.

General symptoms of the disease

This type of disorder is not natural, but may well be observed in the majority of people with cancer. Moreover, some signs may be the only ones indicating the presence of carcinoma in the body.

These symptoms may include:

• anemia, manifested in pallor of the mucous membranes and skin, dizziness, fatigue;
• long-term low-grade fever (several weeks) with possible sudden, causeless rises to 39°C;
• rapid weight loss over a long period of time with normal or even increased appetite;
• possible prolonged or sharp pain in the abdominal area;
• feces of atypical consistency, color and smell with possible impurities of blood, pus or mucus.

Anemia and elevated temperature values ​​indicate general intoxication of the body caused by waste products of a cancerous tumor. Weight loss can manifest itself against a general background as a result of depletion of the body's resources. Pathological discharge in the stool can be a sign of a malignant neoplasm.

It is natural to believe that the above symptoms cannot indicate oncology with 100% accuracy, just as all or only some of the signs from this list may appear.

The most obvious symptom may be the fact of palpation of an atypical formation, which is confirmed by the results of ultrasound diagnostics.

As a rule, some disorders in the cardiovascular system, along with pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract, should alert during examination and prompt specialists to consider the possibility of cancer of the large intestine or its other parts.

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General symptoms

At the last stage of development, rectal cancer is characterized by the following general symptoms:

• Increased drowsiness and weakness;
• Reduced protein synthesis in blood plasma;
• Frequent causeless dizziness and migraines;
• Damage to other internal organs of a person;
• Pale and dry skin and mucous membranes;
• Frequent increases in body temperature to levels much higher than normal;
• The appearance of anemia due to regular bleeding.

Stages of tumor development

It doesn’t matter what you discover in yourself, what are the symptoms and signs of small intestine cancer. Diagnostics reveals the stages of disease development more accurately. There are only five of them, and we will talk about each in detail. It is important to understand that before the second stage, primary signs are either not observed at all, or they are very mild.

So, let's look at how the different stages of the disease go:

1. Zero stage. At this time, atypical cells begin to accumulate and begin to divide rapidly. They can turn into cancer cells at any time. While the pathological process is limited within the mucous membranes.
2. First stage. The cancerous tumor begins to grow rapidly, but does not yet extend beyond the intestinal wall. Metastases have not yet formed either. The symptoms are disorders of the digestive tract, but the person does not pay attention to it. If you do a colonoscopy in time, neoplasia will already be detected.
3. The second stage is characterized by the growth of a tumor that begins to penetrate the intestinal wall. The tumor is already between two and five centimeters.
4. Third stage. This is where you can identify the disease not only through diagnostics: the signs and symptoms of small intestine cancer also appear quite clearly. A person can already understand for himself that there is some kind of disorder with the body, and research will confirm this. At this stage, cancer cells have increased activity. The tumor not only penetrates the intestinal wall, but also quickly increases in size. Cancer cells begin to invade the lymph nodes. Damage to neighboring tissues and organs is observed; they already have pinpoint lesions.
5. Fourth stage. The tumor has already reached its maximum size and has metastasized to those organs that are located farthest away. The body is affected by toxins that are formed due to waste products of cancer. As a result, the functioning of all organs and systems is disrupted.
6. Fifth stage. It is considered the very last stage, at which it is no longer possible to help the patient. The tumor is not only huge, but has also metastasized everywhere, which means it has become inoperable.

How long a person lives depends on the size of the formation in the body and its ability to localize. Cancer cells that have spread only to the surface layer of the epithelium leave a chance of survival for 85% of patients. If the muscle layer is also affected, then the survival rate drops sharply to 67%.

Colon cancer occurs in 4 stages, differing in the size of the formation and the presence of metastasis:

1. First. At this stage, malignancy of the cells of the mucous membrane of the digestive organ occurs, and a neoplasm is formed. It is small in size and located within the intestines. The lymph nodes and internal organs are not yet affected.
2. Second. The tumor increases in size, does not exceed 5 cm. It begins to grow deep into the tissues of the organ, but does not yet affect neighboring organs and lymph nodes.
3. Third. At this stage, intestinal cancer becomes more active, the tumor grows and goes beyond the boundaries of the organ. Cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes.
4. Fourth. At this stage of the disease, metastasis occurs to distant parts of the body, which causes a malfunction of most internal organs.

At the last stage of bowel cancer, nothing can be done. Even modern treatment methods are not able to eliminate the disease.

Diagnostics

If you notice symptoms of colorectal cancer, it is recommended to immediately contact an appropriate specialist. People at risk are advised to regularly carry out the following procedures:

• Sigmodiscopy. A flexible tube is inserted into the patient's anus. The doctor examines the rectum for growths;
• CT scan. Bowel cancer can be prevented by creating a three-dimensional image of the organ. After examining the model, the doctor makes a diagnosis;
• Finger examination. The specialist inserts a finger into the anus and examines the rectum;
• Colonoscopy. Provides the most information as the entire rectum is viewed. During the examination, the doctor removes a piece of flesh for further analysis. If cancerous compounds are found, the patient must undergo some additional procedures.

Bowel cancer rarely manifests itself in the initial stages, so every predisposed person should be regularly examined by a doctor. The earlier the disease is detected, the easier and more painless the entire treatment will be.

Diagnosis of bowel cancer

A blood test can help determine early signs of the disease. Such studies serve as a reason for a thorough examination of the patient and help identify colon and rectal cancer. .

First, a biochemical blood test is performed, which is necessary to obtain information about protein concentration.

If the indicator is reduced, this is an alarming signal. A high content of substances such as urea or hemoglobin can indicate cancer.

If urea levels deviate from the norm, this indicates intestinal obstruction, which occurs from colorectal cancer, and a low hemoglobin level indicates that the intestinal walls are bleeding due to a tumor. For an accurate diagnosis, the patient undergoes an examination.

White blood cells in a blood test indicate an inflammatory process, which indicates the presence of a malignant formation in the intestines. If the erythrocyte sedimentation level is elevated, this confirms that cancer is developing.

The presence of a malignant tumor in the intestine is confirmed by analysis of cancer markers. The activity of cancer cells releases proteins that are detected during analysis. Depending on the affected organ, antigens have characteristics that may indicate inflammation and intestinal tumors.

Colon cancer is confirmed by an oncological marker such as cancer embryonal antigen CA - 19-9. A continuous increase in the amount of specific protein compounds obtained during the activation of cancer cells indicates the progression of a malignant tumor. If the level of tumor marker decreases, then recovery occurs, and this indicates that the treatment is effective.

A blood test that detects certain diseases helps determine the nature of the neoplasm - malignant or benign. You can also determine the stage of the tumor, its size and the body’s reaction to it.

The diagnostic method is determined by the doctor. Although a blood test is an accessible and simple method, it helps to determine the development of a tumor. If the test for hidden bleeding shows positive results, then the patient undergoes rectomanoscopy or fibrosigmoscopy with examination of the intestine.

With the help of radiation diagnostics, a breakthrough has been made in the detection of cancer. These include:

• Ultrasound diagnostics through the abdominal wall to sensors in the intestines.
• Positron emission tomography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and modifications.
• Computed tomography (CT) and modifications.

Oncology can be determined thanks to DNA markers, which make it possible to detect intestinal cancer before the clinical stage of manifestations, which helps to avoid treatment and detect the problem.