Colon Cancer, What Causes It?

Colon cancer, also known as Colorectal Cancer or CRC, is a malignant tumor that starts in the Colon or Rectum. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women. It is also the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States.

Each year, more than 150,000 Americans are diagnosed with CRC, and more than 50,000 die from it. That’s why it’s essential to know the symptoms and causes and how to prevent them.

What Are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do occur, they may include:

• Blood in the stool
• Changes in bowel habits (such as diarrhea or constipation)
• Weight loss
• Weakness
• Feeling tired all the time
• Pain in the abdomen

What Causes Colon Cancer

The most common causes of CRC are:

1. Age: Colon cancer can occur at any age, but it is most common in people over 50 years old.
2. Diet: A diet high in red and processed meats can increase your risk for Colorectal cancer
3. Obesity: Being overweight or obese also increases your risk for CRC.
4. Lack of exercise: A sedentary lifestyle can also increase your risk for Colon cancer.
5. Smoking: Smoking cigarettes increases your risk for colorectal cancer.
6. Alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk for Colon cancer.
7. Genetics: Colon cancer can also be hereditary. If you have a family history of CRC, you are at increased risk for developing it yourself.

How to Reduce Your Risk of Colon Cancer

There are several ways to reduce your risk of Colon cancer:

1. Maintain a healthy diet: A diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help reduce your risk for Colorectal cancer.
2. Stay active: Exercise regularly to reduce your risk for Colon cancer.
3. Quit smoking: Smoking cigarettes increases your risk for Colon cancer. Quitting smoking can reduce your risk significantly.
4. Limit alcohol consumption: Drinking alcohol can also increase your risk for Colon cancer.
5. Get screened regularly: Colon cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. Getting screened regularly can help detect it early when it is most treatable.

Colonoscopies

A Colonoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look inside your Colon and Rectum. It is used to detect Colon cancer and other diseases of the Colon and Rectum. Colonoscopies are often recommended for people over 50 years old, especially if they have a family history of CRC.

The Colonoscope is inserted into your Colon through the rectum. A tiny camera on the Colonoscope sends images of your Colon to a monitor. Your doctor can also use the Colonoscope to remove tissue samples (biopsies) for testing.

Colonoscopies are usually safe, but there is a small risk of complications, such as perforation (puncture) of the Colon or infection.

Conclusion

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women. It is also the second leading cause of death from cancer in the United States. That’s why it’s essential to know the symptoms and reasons and prevent them.

=> Colon cancer often has no symptoms in its early stages. When symptoms do occur, they may include blood in the stool, changes in bowel habits (such as diarrhea or constipation), Weight loss, Weakness, Feeling tired all the time, Pain in the abdomen.

=> The most common causes of Colon cancer are Age, Diet, Obesity, Lack of exercise, Smoking, Alcohol consumption, Genetics.