What is colorectal cancer: causes, symptoms and modern treatment

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, ranking 3rd among the most frequent types of cancer in both men and women. Why is it so widespread, how to diagnose it in time, and whether it can be prevented — the MEDplus editorial team decided to figure it out.

Dmytro Savenkov

medical director of ME “DOKOD” DOR” on inpatient care

• doctor of the highest category, PhD

Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor of the large intestine. They vary in shape, location, and histological structure (cecum, colon, and rectum). When people think of colorectal cancer, they usually say “bowel cancer, colon cancer, or rectal cancer.”

Let’s look at the causes that contribute to the development of this disease, what symptoms may indicate its presence, and how modern medicine helps fight it.

Causes of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer occurs as a result of a combination of genetic factors and lifestyle. Key causes include:

• Dietary habits: excessive amounts of red meat in the diet (veal, pork), as well as alcohol consumption increase the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
  “In Mediterranean countries, the incidence of colorectal cancer is much lower than in Ukraine or the USA, due to the high consumption of vegetables, fruits, and seafood and the low level of red meat consumption,” said the project expert, medical director of ME “DOKOD” DOR” on inpatient care, doctor of the highest category, PhD Dmytro Savenkov, in the OnkoProsvita video.
• Sedentary lifestyle: Low physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle are significant risk factors.
• Hereditary factor:
  “In general, only 3% of all colorectal cancer cases, emphasize, only 3% of these forms of cancer are hereditary. This is a proven fact, and people whose first-degree relatives have had, are sick with or died from this disease are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer,” the doctor explained.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Intestinal cancer symptoms appear gradually. In the early stages, they may be unnoticed, so it is important to know what to look for:

1. Blood in the stool is one of the earliest and most common signals.
2. A mucous discharge with feces.
3. Frequent changes in bowel movements — alternating constipation and diarrhea.
4. Intestinal obstruction, which occurs suddenly, against the background of complete health. Accompanied by very intense pain syndrome and bloating, weakness.

The symptoms of rectal and colon cancer are similar. If any of these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Symptoms of early bowel cancer

The earlier the disease is detected, the greater the chances of successful treatment. Symptoms of early bowel cancer may include:

• Bleeding during defecation.
• A feeling of incomplete evacuation after a bowel movement.
• Weight loss for no apparent reason.

Modern methods of diagnosis and treatment

Treatment of rectal cancer may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Surgery is the main method of treatment for rectal and colon cancer.

“Any operation on the colon or rectum can end with the removal of either a permanent or temporary stoma. But each patient has their own chances of removing the stoma. In general, the closer the tumor is located to the anus, the more technically difficult it is to perform an organ-sparing operation and preserve the function of the anus. For example, with tumors of the right half of the colon 99, almost 100% of operations are completed with primary reconstruction without removing the stoma.

Worldwide, and in our country, the percentage of organ-sparing operations at this stage is about 95–97%. Therefore, I can answer this question unequivocally – no, surgery on the colon, even on the rectum, is not necessarily a stoma,” the oncologist explained.

The doctor told more about cases from his own practice in the video.

Colorectal cancer prevention

Today, there are several screening programs in the world to detect early forms of colorectal cancer. A person aged 45 years, who is in the general risk group for colorectal cancer occurrence, should undergo the first screening colonoscopy. This is provided if there are no symptoms, such as blood, mucus with feces, or frequent changes in constipation and diarrhea, difficulty defecating, etc. You can also do a fecal occult blood test, but this test must be approached cautiously, there are certain conditions that must be met so that the test is not false positive.

Preventive examination with colonoscopy is definitely the best way to detect colorectal cancer early.

Patients often ask, are there alternative examination methods that can replace colonoscopy?

Doctor Dmytro Savenkov answers:

“Yes, in the world there is a virtual colonoscopy, which is performed as a reconstruction after performing a computed tomography of the abdominal cavity, pelvic cavity. In the world there is a capsule endoscopy, when you swallow a pill, and a micro-camera takes many-many-many pictures of the mucous membrane of the small and large intestine. And then doctors analyze them. There are also survey systems that reveal hidden risks of colorectal cancer. None of them can, unfortunately, replace an endoscopic examination of the mucous membrane of the large intestine.”

The initial stages of colorectal cancer are curable, the oncologist claims:

“If this disease is detected at an early stage, if one is prudent and attentive to one’s condition after treatment, then we can talk with patients, firstly, about recovery, and secondly, about a very long life in remission, provided if they are constantly monitored and in contact with their personal doctor.”

What can you advise people who want to reduce their risk of developing this disease?

Doctor Savenkov: “First, a balanced diet. Eat more vegetables and fruits, less red meat. Choose a more active lifestyle for yourself. And, of course, pay attention to the appearance of such symptoms as blood in the stool, mucus in the stool, frequent changes of diarrhea to constipation, bloating. Be responsible for your health and perform a preventive colonoscopy. In the modern world, this can be done absolutely painlessly under general anesthesia.”

To reduce your risk of cancer, follow these recommendations:

• Eat more vegetables, fruits, and reduce your intake of red meat.
• Be physically active.
• Get regular checkups, including a colonoscopy, starting at age 45 or earlier if you have a family history of cancer.

Take care of your health. Remember: early cancer diagnosis saves lives!