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
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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
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