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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-03-29, Page 42Page 8 Cancer of the colon, rectum It can be detected at an early stage The purpose of the colon and rectum is to extract liquid from the remains of digested food and to hold the solid waste matter until ready to be expelled from the body. The colon, also called the large bowel, is the lower 5 to 6 feet of intestine. The rectum is the last 5 to 6 inches at the end of the colon, leading to the outside of the body. Cancer is a disease" characterized by un- controlled growth and spread of abnormal cells. Normally, the cells that make up all parts of the body reproduce them- selves in an orderly manner so that growth occurs, worn-out tissues are replaced and injuries repaired. Occasionally, certain Cells grow into a mass of tissue called a tumor. Some tumors are benign, ,others are malignant (cancer). Benign tumors 'may interfere with body function and require surgical treatment but they do not invade neigh- boring tissue and seldom threaten life. However, cancers invade" -and destroy normal tissue. By a process called metastasis, cells break away from a malignant tumor and spread through the blood and lymphatic systems to other parts of the body Breast . • from page married women than single women, and lowest for married women who have -borne and nursed children. The frequency of breast cancer varies widely throughout the world; for example, it is far less common in Japan than in Europe and America. It is possible that there are multiple causes of breast cancer and many research avenues are being explored. Your best protection against cancer is a periodic complete health checkup. The checkup should include a chest X- ray and a "procto" (an examination of the lower bowel) for all adults and a breast examination, pelvic examination and Pap test for all women. For additional protection learn the Seven Warning Signals and, if any signal is loticed, see your doctor. Only he can tell if it, means cancer. Chances are it isn't. stomach 44 40146 liregill01° �i•1 i .$1a Ar01 cecum e small intestine limit of digital exam anus where they form new cancers. Sometimes cancer grows and spreads rapidly; sometimes the process may take years. Colorectal cancers can develop in the intestinal tract from the cecum to the anus with most tumors occurring in the lower .one-third segment of the lower bowel. Although the cause of colorectal cancer, like that of most cancers, is unknown, statistical evidence indicates a relationship between cancer of the colon and two other diseases of the digestive tract: chronic ulcerative colotis and congenital multiple polyposis. Studies have shown that patients who have had ulcerative colitis for 10 years or more have an increased risk of colon cancer. Congenital multiple polyposis is a hereditary disease in which numerous polyps grow in the colon and rectutn. These growths have a tendency to, become malignant. Evidence has been developed in recent years suggesting that most bowel cancer is caused by environmental agents. There is a growing in- dication that dietary patterns playa key role with some 'scientists believing that a diet high in 'beef and -or deficient in high fiber content may be a significant causative factor; Research in both these areas is continuing. rectum colon limit df proctoscopy SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS Since the digested matter in the colon and rectum becomes in- creasingly solid as it descends, a colorectal cancer will result in obstruction. The closer the cancer is to the rectum, the more pronounced will be the signs and symptoms of obstruction: rectal bleeding, appearing' in or on the stool: constipation or diarrhea, or both alternately; increase in intestinal gas, causing various degrees of ab- dominal discomfort. People with hemorrhoids are apt to ignore rectal bleeding since it is a common result of the condition, This is unwise because although hemorrhoids do not cause cancer, a person with hemorrhoids may also have cancer. Rectal bleeding can never be assumed to be the result of hemorrhoids alone; only an examination can rule out cancer. Fortunately, colorectal cancer can be detected at an early age, even asymptomatic, stage with procedures and tests now available: "digital rectal examination, guaiac testing for occult blood, proc- tosigmoidoscopy, fiberoptic colonscopy and barium enema with air contrast examination. - 1. Digital Rectal Examination - By in- serting a gloved finger into the -rectum, the physician can inspect the Here's how it works sigmoid and rectum removed anal area. He can feel irregular or abnormally firm areas that may be malignant. Approximately 12 to 15 percent of all colorectal cancers can be detected by digital examination. 2. Guaiac -Testing for 'Occult Blood '- The use of guaiac impregnated slides is a simple, inexpensive method of testing the feces for blood. This is often done ti in the doctor's office; there is also a KIT for use at home where the in- dividual prepares stool samples on guaiac slides from three consecutive bowel movements. The reason for the multiple specimens is ' that bleeding may be in- termittent. To increase the accuracy of the stool analysis, it is believed that a special meat -free, high residue diet should be started at least 24 hours before the first stool specimen is collected and continued during the next three days. Vitamin C and aspirin should not be taken because they in- terfere with the test. 3. Proc- tosigmoidoscopy - A lighted tube is passed into the rectum' and lower colon through which the physician can inspect the wall visually for a distance of about 12 in- ches. If a growth is discovered, a small tissue sample is removed for microscopic examination (biopsy). Two-thirds of all colorectal cancer can be detected with the aid of this instrument. 4. Fiberoptic Colon- scopy - The colonoscope is a flexible instrument with greater range than the rigid proc- tosigmoidoscope. It allows the physician to examine the entire length of the colon. Any suspicious growth can also be biopsied through the colonoscope for immediate microscopic examination. 5. Barium Enema with Ai,r Contrast Examination - This technique is essential for patients with signs and symptoms of. colorectral cancer. The method uses a contrast medium to visualize the lower bowel. By careful X-raying of the colon, small or large lesions. overlooked -by palpation, proc- tosigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy may be detected. If a barium enema examination is negative but suspicious symptoms persist, the examination should be repeated. Although surgery is the most effective method of treating colorectal cancer, radiation therapy and chemotherapy in combination.w.ith surgery are- being used in some cases. Depending on the type and stage of the disease, an operation for colorectal cancer con- sists of removing the part of the bowel containing the tumor. The lymph nodes that drain this area may also' be removed because the lymph system is one of the main routes for{ c,arrying cancer cells to other parts of the body. When the operation involves more extensive surgery and the two ends of the bowel cannot be connected again, an opening ,is .made in the abdominal wall through which bodily wastes can be evacuated. The surgical procedure is referred to as a colostomy and the opening is called a stoma. The colostomy may be either temporary or permanent. In the latter case, : the patient, after being helped to adjust to some initial problems, can lead an otherwise normal, fully active life. The basic principle of radiation therapy is to bombard a cancer with rays which damage or destroy the cancer cells yet produce only minimum damage to surrounding tissue. Radiation therapy is proving effective in reducing the size of some colorectal tumors, helping prevent their spread and in relieving pain. It may be used before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor and, following surgery, to kill. malignant cells not reached in the operation. When radiation therapy is combined with surgery, it should not always be assumed that the disease is necessarily any worse than it is for 'patients who have surgery alone. Each case is different and requires individual treatment. Skin reactions, nausea, vomitting, a feeling of tiredness can be side effects of radiation. Rest and good nutrition help the body recover more quickly. Chemotherapy may be used alone or in com- bination with surgery or radiation therapy to treat some cancers. The anti- cancer drugs used in chemotherapy produce more extensive injury to cancer cells than to normal cells and the physician maintains a delicate balance between dose and frequency by giving enough .chemotherapy to kill cancer cells without destroying too many healthy ones. Chemotherapeutic drugs work in several different ways, but they usually interfere with cell division or growth. Rapidly growing cells, both normal and cancer, are most vulnerable to Turn to page 9 • This informative publication is brought to you with the kind co-operation of the following LAKEPORT STEEL INDUSTRIES LTD. GODERICH HANOVER STEEL 8, PIPE SUPPLY RR 3 HANOVER GODERICH ELECTRIC 139 South St., Goderich 524-9512 n THE ESQUIRE ._.__. 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