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Essay on colon cancer
Essay on colon cancer
Free medical essay on colon cancer
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“Once colon cancer becomes symptomatic, nine times out of ten it is too late” (“Colon Quotes”). Colon cancer has always been an issue in the world. It is a deadly cancer that has killed many over the years. Colon cancer affects both men and women as they get older. There have been many deaths and diagnosis over the years because of colon cancer. It affects patients, families, and friends because of the battles the patients have to go through. Colon cancer is a deadly cancer that puts many through tough battles.
Colon cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is found all around the world. It is most common in North America and Europe and is least rare in Asia and Africa (Garnick 786). This shows how colon cancer is known all over the world. It also shows how location and culture affects the chances of someone getting colon cancer. Worldwide, the incidence of colon cancer in developed countries is 37 (per 100,000 people per year) and in undeveloped countries, 10 (Panno 58). This proves that colon cancer is more common in developed countries because there are more choices and a bigger variety of food. This also proves that where someone lives in the world could affect their chance of getting colon cancer. There is a lot of information, cases, and facts about colon cancer. The annual number of new colon cancer cases worldwide is 164,673 in North America, 41,946 in South America, 362,710 in Europe, 23,454 in Africa, and 338,832 in Asia (Panno 56).
There are many different parts to the digestive system, including the colon. The colon, also known as the large intestine, is an important part of the body. “The colon and rectum are parts of the digestive system, which is also called the gastrointestinal (GI) system…” (“Co...
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...ght Colorectal Cancer. Fight Colorectal Cancer, 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Chen, Yi-Bin. “Colon Cancer: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” US National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. 18 Mar. 2014.
"Colon Quotes." BrainyQuote. Xplore, n.d. Web. 24 Mar. 2014.
“Colon and Rectal Cancer.” Turning Discovery into Health, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2014.
“Colon Cancer.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 22 Aug. 2013. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
"Colorectal Cancer Incidence by Sex and Age." Medinfographicscom. WordPress & Atahualpa, 2014. Web. 24 Apr. 2014.
Garnick, Marc. “Colon Cancer.” The World Book Encyclopedia. 2009 edition. 2009. Print.
“What Is Colorectal Cancer?” What Is Colorectal Cancer? N.p., 2014. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
Panno, Joseph. Cancer: The Role of Genes, Lifestyle, and Environment. New York: Facts On File, 2005. Print.
I think the chapter that helps to support her main point the most is chapter four titled “Space.” In this chapter, she discussed a great deal about the geographic distribution of cancer as well as the environment of the people who are more likely to get cancer. This includes: job type, living location, and living surroundings. To expand on each, she states that workers with
...ozzi E, Biffoni M, Todaro M, Peschle C, et al. Identification and expansion of human colon-cancer-initiating cells. Nature. 2007;445(7123):111-5.
Cancer is one of the 9 National Health Priority Areas (NHPA), areas which account for a significant portion of the burden of disease, but have sizeable potential for improvement. In Australia, CRC is the second most common cancer, after prostate (in men) and breast cancer (in women) (AIHW, Cancer incidence projections). The incidence has gradually increased (by 13% in males from 1982-2007) (AIHW, Cancer in Australia an overview). This is compounded by the ageing population and population growth, with 14,860 new cases in 2010 (http://www.cancer.org.au/about-cancer/types-of-cancer/bowel-cancer). This graph demonstrates this upward trend ((AIHW, Cancer incidence projections):
Colorectal cancer, or CRC, affects African American men and women more than Caucasians, at a rate 20% higher. This is concerning when faced with the mortality rates among African Americans, 28% higher for women and 14% higher for men than for Whites. African Americans are also more likely to be in later stages of the disease when diagnosed. There is a need to study and evaluate why these factors exist, as proper screening and early diagnosis can severely impact survival rates for CRC. One study attempts to find the solution through testing, however, this study slightly discredits itself along the way.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, responsible for more than 57,000 deaths in 2001 alone. Colon polyps, which can lead to colon cancer, are found in about 30-40% of people aged 60 or older- and the risks of polyps increase with age” (Lerche Davis, 2003). Most cases of colon cancer start as small adenomatous polyps. Many people experience no signs or symptoms in the early stages of colon cancer. Some signs and symptoms can include diarrhea, constipation, or any change in consistency of your stool that continues for longer than a month. Any bleeding from the rectum or blood found in the stool can also be a sign of colon cancer. Continuing abdominal pain, cramps, gas, weakness, fatigue and unexplained weight loss could all be signs of rectal cancer in the patient (Staff,
What the recent studies are showing is pretty scary. Our country has the highest number of colon-rectal cancer cases being reported in the entire world. And the disease is equally extensive among males as they are in females. In fact the disease today is killing more Americans than it ever did before. To some it is too embarrassing a subject to talk about. But it must be realized that cancer and deaths resulting from that are much more serious things and should be dealt brushing aside all sorts of inhibitions.
"Red meat and colon cancer." Harvard Health Publications. Harvard, Mar. 2008. Web. 1 Apr. 2014.
The digestive system otherwise known as the gastrointestinal tract (GI tract) is a long tube which runs from the mouth to the anus. It operates to break down the food we eat from large macromolecules such as starch, proteins and fats, which can’t be easily absorbed, into readily absorbable molecules such as glucose, fatty acids and amino acids. Once broken down, these molecules can cross the cells lining the small intestine, enter into the circulatory system and be transported around the body finally being used for energy, growth and repair.
The large intestine is the last portion of the digestive system, but also a component of the excretory system. It absorbs water remaining from indigestible wastes and also excretes the remaining waste as feces through the anus. This expulsion process is known as defecation.
Colon cancer develops in the part of the gastrointestinal tract that absorbs water and minerals before waste products are disposed via the rectum. In women endometrial cancer is related to colon cancer. This type of cancer is the second leading cause of death due to cancer in the United States. Over one-hundred fifty thousand individuals will be diagnosed this year and this cancer will probably be responsible for about 47,900 deaths in 1999 (http://www.cancer.org). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas that develop from the glandular cells. Ninety percent of all colon cancer cases will develop in individuals after 50 years of age. Ninety percent of all tumors arise from polyps that are commonly found in people older than 50. Prevention includes regular exercise and a diet high in fiber. The most important risk factor is age. Medical screening includes a yearly blood occult test after age 50 and a colonoscopy every 3 years after age 50. Regular screening detects polyps that have become precancerous. If regular screening is not done, the cancer is not detected until blood is found in the...
The Digestive system is a group of hollow and solid organs working together to convert food into energy and basic nutrients to feed the entire body. These nutrients are used for energy, growth and cell repair. Once the food enters the mouth it passes through a long tube inside the body which has many names such as the alimentary canal, the gastrointestinal tract also known as the GI tract or the digestive tract. The process starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The hollow organs that make up the GI tract are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine which includes the rectum and anus. The solid organs of the digestive system are the liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder. Once we ingest the food the body digests the food and is broken down into its own component chemical. The body must perform six major functions in order to provide energy and nutrients to the body, these functions are ingestion, secretion, mixing and movement, digestion, absorption and excretion.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Every four minutes a person is diagnosed and every nine minutes someone dies. People with a first-degree relative such as a parent, sibling, or child who has colon cancer are between two to three times more the risk of developing the cancer than those without a family history. The five- year survival rate for colon cancer found at a local stage is 90%. The five- year survival rate for colon cancer at the regional stage is 70%. The five- year survival rate for colon cancer found at the distant stage is 12%. Ninety % of new cases and 95% of deaths from colon cancer are in people 50 years of age or older. Colon Cancer has many symptoms, stages, and also treatments. (Roger W. Harms)
In the United States, the disease is not so common, but is quite fatal due to the unawareness of disease and the lack of early screening programs, leading to a late diagnosis, In other countries, such as Japan, Chile, and Iceland, where the disease is much more common, early screening programs are well implemented and the cancers are detected early enough to be treated (Livstone, Merck Manuals Consumer Version). Stomach cancer is much more common among blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians in comparison to other races or ethnicities. Those who are 50 years or older are more at risk of forming the disease as 75% of stomach cancer cases are within that age group (Livstone, Merck Manuals Professional Edition). Stomach cancer is also more prominent in men than women. In addition, those who smoke, have high salt diets, or have had the Helicobacter pylori infection or gastric polyps are more at risk (American Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the most recognized reason for cancer-related deaths for men and women together, as per the American Cancer Society. However, not at all like prostate, breast, and lung cancer, colon cancer is the most preventable diseases if variations from the norm in the colon are diagnosed right on time with appropriate screening. With colon cancer, the distinction is we can recognize polyps — small bumps in the colon that transform into cancer.
Larger than necessary waistlines seem to be the largest causation factor with a greater risk shown in men. • Physical inactivity is another risk factor whereby insufficient physical activity is undertaken on a regular basis. Becoming more physically active may reduce the risk of developing colon cancer. Possible Symptoms There are several symptoms which may suggest the presence of colon cancer. This does not automatically mean that you do have cancer but you should consult your doctor to rule it