Colon Cancer
(Colorectal Cancer)
Medical Author: Dennis Lee, MD
Medical Reviewing Editor: Jay Marks, MD
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A Surprising Colon Cancer
From diagnosis to treatment, a
fighting tale.
An Unexpected Challenge
Wed., Dec. 7, 2005
 At the time, I had no idea anything at all was wrong. I just knew it was time for a colonoscopy. In
fact it was past time, since I was 61 years old.
I don't remember the procedure itself. What I do remember is waking up at home and Kim, my husband, telling me that they'd found a tumor at the very far end of my colon and that the doctor wanted to speak to me when I was awake and ready to talk. I called the doc right away. The doctor told me that he was totally surprised when he found the tumor, that it was being biopsied, and that he asked them to rush the results.
No matter what the outcome of the biopsy; the tumor had to be removed, the doc said. He asked who I wanted to do the surgery. I somehow remembered that a lady I play golf with is a nurse for a gastro practice. I called her and found out who she'd ask for if she needed colon surgery. Once I got a name, I called my gastroenterologist back, told him who I wanted, and asked for an appointment.
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What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of more than 100 different diseases.
They affect the body's basic unit, the cell. Cancer occurs when
cells become abnormal and divide without control or order. Like
all other organs of the body, the colon and rectum are made up
of many types of cells. Normally, cells divide to produce more
cells only when the body needs them. This orderly process helps
keep us healthy.
If cells keep dividing when new cells are not needed,
a mass of tissue forms. This mass of extra tissue, called a growth
or tumor, can be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors are not cancer. They can usually be
removed and, in most cases, they do not come back. Most important,
cells from benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.
Benign tumors are rarely a threat to life.
Malignant tumors are cancer. Cancer cells can invade
and damage tissues and organs near the tumor. Also, cancer cells
can break away from a malignant tumor and enter the bloodstream
or lymphatic system. This is how cancer spreads from the original
(primary) tumor to form new tumors in other parts of the body.
The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
When cancer spreads to another part of the body,
the new tumor has the same kind of abnormal cells and the same
name as the primary tumor. For example, if colon cancer spreads
to the liver, the cancer cells in the liver are colon cancer cells.
The disease is metastatic colon cancer (it is not liver cancer).
What is cancer of the colon and rectum?
The colon is the part of the digestive system where
the waste material is stored. The rectum is the end of the colon
adjacent to the anus. Together, they form a long, muscular tube
called the large intestine (also known as the large bowel). Tumors
of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall
of the large intestine. Benign tumors of the large intestine are
called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called
cancers. Benign polyps do not invade nearby tissue or spread to
other parts of the body. Benign polyps can be easily removed during
colonoscopy and are not life-threatening. If benign polyps are
not removed from the large intestine, they can become malignant
(cancerous) over time. Most of the cancers of the large intestine
are believed to have developed from polyps. Cancer of the colon
and rectum (also referred to as colorectal cancer) can invade
and damage adjacent tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also
break away and spread to other parts of the body (such as liver
and lung) where new tumors form. The spread of colon cancer to
distant organs is called metastasis of the colon cancer. Once
metastasis has occurred in colorectal cancer, a complete cure
of the cancer is unlikely.
Globally, cancer of the colon and rectum is the third
leading cause of cancer in males and the fourth leading cause
of cancer in females. The frequency of colorectal cancer varies
around the world. It is common in the Western world and is rare
in Asia and Africa. In countries where the people have adopted
western diets, the incidence of colorectal cancer is increasing.
Next: What are the causes of colon cancer? »
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