what is Colon Cancer? | Expressive Health
Colon Cancer
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Colon Cancer
The colon is the part of?the digestive system and muscular, tube-shaped organ measuring about 4 feet long.?This is the place in which 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). Colon cancer is not necessarily the same as rectal cancer, but they often occur together in what is called colorectal cancer. Rectal cancer originates in the rectum, which is the last several inches of the large intestine, closest to the anus.?Tumors of the colon and rectum are growths arising from the inner wall of the large intestine. Most colon cancers originate from small, noncancerous (benign) tumors called adenomatous polyps that form on the inner walls of the large intestine. Some of these polyps may grow into malignant colon cancers over time if they are not removed during colonoscopy. Colon cancer cells will invade and damage healthy tissue that is near the tumor causing many complications. Benign tumors of the large intestine are called polyps. Malignant tumors of the large intestine are called cancers. 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. Very early colon cancer that develops within a polyp often can be cured by removing the polyp during a colonoscopy, a simple outpatient screening procedure. More-advanced tumors usually require surgical removal, which in many cases is followed by chemotherapy.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.
Function of Colon
The colon play important role in digestive system and has three main functions in digestion .
- To digest and absorb nutrients from food.
- To concentrate fecal material by absorbing fluid (and electrolytes) from it.
- To store and control evacuation of fecal material.
Colon cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States.?Deaths from colorectal cancer rank third after lung and?prostate cancer?for men and third after lung and?breast cancer?for women.?
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