A colon tumor is a diagnosis that can shock any patient, as well as all members of his family. Often it is possible to diagnose this disease very late, so doctors sometimes have to resort to traumatic and dangerous operations. Often after this, the patient remains with a disability for the rest of his life. In this case, modern methods of therapy can count on a successful outcome of the treatment of even malignant neoplasms of the intestine. Most importantly, the patient himself must consult a doctor in a timely manner.
Disease Description
A colon tumor can occur in any part of the intestine. Most often, doctors find it in the sigmoid, cecum, or rectum.
In general, the colon is the end section of the gastrointestinal tract. It is divided into colon, blind, direct and sigmoid. It is here that the process of absorption of nutrients from food, as well as the formation of feces from undigested residues.
The colon is in the form of a semicircle, starting in the groin area on the right side. Then it rises up to the right hypochondrium, passes into the left hypochondrium and falls into the cavity of the small pelvis.
It is worth recognizing that a tumor of the colon, most often, develops in elderly patients, they are at risk. Especially afraid of this disease is for those who had relatives in the family with a tumor of the same type, as well as suffering from gastroenterological diseases. For example, diverticulosis, colitis, polyposis. The probability of encountering a tumor is also great for those who do not lead a healthy lifestyle: smokes, suffers from overeating and obesity, consumes little fiber.
With a hereditary predisposition to cancer, genetic testing is worth it. It will help prevent the development of a colon tumor.
Disease progresses
Whether a tumor will develop rapidly in size and metastasize depends on the particular form of cancer. Most often, by the time the doctor makes a diagnosis, the disease is already in an advanced stage. So, without intensive treatment, approximately half of the patients die within the first year of detecting obvious symptoms.
Each year, 0.03% of Russians make a diagnosis of colon cancer. In fact, this is a fairly high indicator, since, unlike most other pathologies, the prognosis for recovery of such patients is very low. The statistics around the world remain alarming: the number of cases increases almost every year.
In developed countries, screening for colon cancer has recently been introduced at the state level for all citizens over 50 years of age. If the tumor is detected at an early stage, then the probability of a complete cure is above 90 percent. When the disease is in the second stage, the probability decreases to 75%, and in the third - to 45%. If the cancer managed to give metastases, as a rule, secondary tumors affect the liver, then only 5-10% of patients are able to avoid an early death.
Symptoms
Knowing the treatment features and symptoms of a colon tumor, you will be informed about this pathology if you come across this disease. At the initial stage of the disease, when the tumor occupies only a small area of the mucous membrane, it is impossible to detect it on your own. A person simply will not have any signs of deterioration.
In the second stage, the tumor grows into the intestinal wall, affecting the serous and muscle layers. But even in this case, a person does not suspect any danger. The only symptom that can be a symptom of a colon tumor is aching abdominal pain, which recurs periodically, and excessive gas formation. But even these symptoms do not always occur. It depends on the location of the tumor. First of all, the disease makes itself felt when it develops in the sigmoid part of the intestine, which is considered the narrowest. Symptoms may also occur depending on the growth rate of the neoplasm and its other features.
In the third stage, obvious signs of a colon tumor are already showing up. At this stage, it is already possible to accurately identify cancer. The patient begins to have serious problems with bowel movement: diarrhea, constipation, increased frequency of bowel movements, blood appears in the stool, and abdominal pain goes into a constant stage.
The fourth stage is called terminal. All of the above symptoms are aggravated. A large neoplasm can block the lumen existing in the intestine. Because of this, the patient develops acute intestinal obstruction. In this case, urgent surgical intervention is necessary. At this stage, the most obvious symptoms of a colon tumor are determined. Treatment is required immediately, but it does not always bring results.
At the third and fourth stages, most patients are already aware of their diagnosis. Sometimes the manifestations of the disease scare them so much that the visit to the doctor is delayed until the very last moment. This happens especially often in families in which someone has already died from colon cancer. In such a situation, it is imperative that loved ones do not ignore the symptoms. If your relative has lost his appetite, he is haggard and has lost weight, and his mood has become melancholy, you must without fail insist that he consult a doctor.
Diagnostics
You can count on effective treatment if the tumor is small. That is why special attention should be paid to preventive examinations by a gastroenterologist, which includes studies of feces for occult blood.
After the patient turns 40 years old, such examinations should be done every three years, and blood tests should be taken every year. This is one of the most reliable diagnostic methods for this disease.
In some cases, the patient may be prescribed a colonoscopy, that is, a procedure in which a large part of the intestine (about one meter) will undergo a thorough examination. Also used in the diagnosis of irrigoscopy - this is an x-ray of the intestine. In this case, it is preliminarily filled with contrast medium with the help of an enema.
During these procedures, the doctor can conduct a biopsy, that is, take a small piece of the intestinal mucosa for a detailed and thorough examination under a microscope. This is a virtually painless procedure that must be carried out for all patients with polyps in the intestine.
An important part of the diagnostic process is ultrasound. With its help, you can find out how much the tumor has spread, whether metastases appeared in the liver. This study is carried out both during surgery and with endoscopy.
To assess the presence of distant metastases, scintigraphy of the liver, MRI is used. In some cases, the appointment of laparotomy and laparoscopy is possible.
Types of cancer
The tumor of the colon, in addition to the fact that it can be benign and malignant, is divided into several types. This will be discussed below.
Colon tumor is classified according to its growth forms. In particular, they distinguish:
- endophytic (in this case, it grows into the wall of the intestine);
- exophytic (a tumor spreads into the intestinal lumen);
- saucer-like (turns into a ulcer tumor, which simultaneously grows into the lumen and the thickness of the intestine).
There are several varieties and the types of cells from which this tumor is formed. This is important in determining the degree of malignancy of the tumor. You can determine the type based on the results of a histological examination of its tissues, which are obtained during surgery or biopsy.
Among colon tumors, adenocarcinoma should be distinguished (it is subdivided according to the degree of cell differentiation), colloid cancer, undifferentiated and cricoid cancer.
The degree of cell differentiation is extremely important to know in order to make an accurate prognosis of a colon tumor.
Treatment tactics
One of the important conditions for the successful treatment of this disease is an accurate diagnosis. Only with complete information about the tumor, the oncologist will be able to choose the right tactics. Given that the majority of patients faced with this ailment are elderly, as well as the fact that the disease is often detected at a fairly late stage, surgical intervention becomes meaningless. If metastases have begun, this approach can only worsen the patient's condition.
It must be remembered that the task of the doctor is not only to eliminate cancer (in some cases it is simply impossible to do this), but also to improve the patient's quality of life. There are examples when patients with the fourth stage of colon cancer lived for many years with a tumor without suffering from symptoms, thanks to the correct treatment method.
Refusal of operation
Recently, in developed countries, when treating a colon tumor, doctors are increasingly refusing surgical intervention in favor of chemotherapy. For example, they do this in the USA, Israel, and Germany. Other effective approaches are also used that can significantly reduce the size of the underlying neoplasm and the spread of metastases.
Even despite a large number of side effects, it is chemotherapy that remains the most effective method of fighting against a colon tumor (a photo of the disease is given in the article) Reviews of patients who managed to cope with the disease using this method only confirms these words. Special drugs begin to simultaneously affect metastases and the main tumor. After each course of such therapy, the chances of recovery only increase. It is important to choose the right medicine, as well as regularly carry out diagnostics so that the effect of chemotherapy can be assessed as objectively as possible.
Also, with benign colon tumor, targeted therapy is used. It implies the appointment of monoclonal antibody preparations that can directly affect the tumor. They block its blood supply, thereby killing malignant cells. Unlike chemotherapy, these drugs do not harm other tissues and organs, with a minimum of side effects.
For colon cancer, radiotherapy is used before and after surgery. First, with its help, the neoplasm is reduced, and then individual tumor cells that remain in the body are destroyed. Using this method, it is possible to minimize the likelihood of relapse, when the cancer can again occur several years after effective treatment.
Surgical intervention
Removal of a colon tumor today is used even in the first stage. This is considered an advanced approach. If there are no metastases in the lymph nodes, an endoscopic dissection of the submucosa and colon mucosa is performed.
During this operation, special electrosurgical knives are used, which remove the affected tissue with jewelry precision.
With extensive tumors and the development of metastases, part of the intestine is removed. In advanced countries, surgeons are doing everything possible to preserve the rectal sphincter. In this case, the patient after the operation will be able to independently empty the intestines naturally, he will not need to form a colostomy. This is a special hole in the stomach, into which the end of the colon is brought out.
Forecasts
The prospects for this type of cancer, especially a malignant tumor of the colon, scare many. The point is not only in unfavorable prognoses and probable death, but also in fear of losing the opportunity to live a full life even in case of successful treatment.
It is worth noting that many patients who managed to defeat this disease live for many years, almost without experiencing any problems and consequences.
Rehabilitation
After getting rid of this tumor, the patient needs a full rehabilitation. As with any surgery, the first few days will be most important. At this time, the patient is forbidden to give drink and food. He receives all the necessary intravenously. Only at the end of the first week is it allowed to introduce liquid food, provided that it is well absorbed. Typically, the patient remains in the hospital after surgery for approximately three weeks.
In the future, depending on the severity of the disease, additional surgical intervention to remove the colostomy, as well as therapeutic measures to help prevent the development of metastases, may be required.
Removal of a malignant tumor is often fraught with serious complications. For example, necrosis, bleeding, cicatricial narrowing of organs, the formation of a hernia. Experts will help to eliminate these negative consequences after the next visit to the gastroenterologist.
Rehabilitation is especially important for patients who have to spend the rest of their lives with a colostomy.