Monday, August 1, 2011

Can hemorroids lead to colon cancer

Can hemorroids lead to colon cancer?
My aunt told me that hemorroids will turn into colon cancer, she has her's surgically removed and advised that you had to, otherwise the hemorroids will turn into cancer. I have the same thing but i dont want to have surgery, should i be concerned?
Other - Health - 4 Answers
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1 :
Your aunt is wrong. Hemmorhoids are unrelated to colon cancer.
2 :
yes you should and have a check up every time the Dr recommends it
3 :
Nope, they are just blood vessels that grew too large under the pressure of going to the toilet or the pressure of being overweight. The thing that can turn into colon cancer though, is called polyp. A polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue (tumor) projecting from a mucous membrane, like in the bowels.
4 :
"Hemorrhoids are enlarged veins located just under the skin in the lower rectum and anus. They can become inflamed, leading to itching and discomfort, especially during a bowel movement. They can also thrombose (clot), causing severe pain. Hemorrhoids can also bleed, and such bleeding is what often brings them to the attention of patients and doctors. Many colonoscopies are done for rectal bleeding. The reason for these exams is not simply to diagnose hemorrhoidal bleeding, but to rule out more serious causes of bleeding such as colon cancer. Colon cancer often causes no symptoms early on. However, later symptoms include bleeding from the rectum, constipation, a change in bowel habits and fatigue because of anemia due to bleeding. Thus, it is important not to assume that rectal bleeding stems from hemorrhoids until other causes of bleeding have been ruled out. To answer your question, there is no known association between hemorrhoids and colon cancer, so hemorrhoids are not a sign of colon cancer. In addition, there is no risk of hemorrhoids becoming cancerous. Unlike hemorrhoids, which involve the veins, colon cancer begins as a small polyp in the lining of the colon. " http://health.ivillage.com/cancer/coc/0,,5pwf,00.html

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

How deadly is colon cancer

How deadly is colon cancer?
My aunt was very recently diagnosed with colon cancer, and is currently in the hospital. I am very worried about her, and I don't really know anything about this form of cancer. Is it easy to cure? How long does treatment typically take? Can your body reject or rufuse treatment?
Cancer - 3 Answers
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1 :
How deadly it is depends largely on the stage as does the way it is treated. I see patients cured everyday with colonoscopy alone. At stage 1 the 5 year survival rate is 50-95%. At stage 4 it is 5%.
2 :
If you catch it early enough the chances of survival are good. It is surgically removed. Then you may need chemotherapy to reduce the risk of it flaring up somewhere else.
3 :
It's going to depend on the stage the cancer was discovered at, but colon cancer is one of the most treatable kinds of cancer. At stage 1, the tumor can be removed during a colonoscopy, since it has not yet invaded the colon wall, and the cure rate is over 95%. At stage 2, it has invaded the colon wall, but it has not yet gone into other parts of the body. This is removed through surgery, where the colon is "resectioned" (a portion is removed and the ends sewn together). At this stage, the cure rate is still about 85%. At stage 3, it has gone through the colon wall and invaded some lymph nodes. At this point, after surgery the success rate is about 60%, and chemotherapy will be given, raising the cure rate to about 75%. My chemo was 12 sessions two weeks apart, though if my white blood cell count went down (it only happened once), they would delay it for a week. They'll start chemo about 45 days after the surgery, to allow you to build up your strength. Stage 4 is when it's especially serious. That's when it's gone into other organs, especially the liver or the lungs, and I've seen estimates of the cure rate as low as 5%. But it's a slow spreading cancer, so that's why it's very important to get checked out as soon as you suspect anything (I waited until I was in extreme pain, so I was at stage 3 when they caught it). The chemo is relatively easy on you, compared to some other types. I never lost my hair, though it did stop growing, and I didn't get nauseous, because they were able to give me all sorts of anti-nausea medicines. Unfortunately, one of the medicines (Oxaliplatin) almost always causes your hands and feet to hurt whenever they get cold, but that always went away after a few days for me. She will still get tired, but most people are able to still continue their everyday routines. I slept an extra hour or so each night and was usually OK.

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Sunday, July 24, 2011

What symptoms did you have before learning you had colon cancer

What symptoms did you have before learning you had colon cancer?

Cancer - 4 Answers
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1 :
I do not have it, however I am noticing some issues you may have or not have. You can answer this in additonal details. I have shrunk a few inches, number two has varried in size shape and had small black dots in it sometimes and usually breaks really easiely. Butt pinches or cramps. Pain everywhere, more gas at night and thats about it. However I do have tmjd and muscle tightness everywhere as well so it could be both..
2 :
A Word About Colon Cancer Symptoms: Colon cancer does not always present symptoms. Colon cancer symptoms sometimes do not appear until the disease has progressed into an advanced stage. Bleeding - Blood in Stool: This is the most commonly experienced colon cancer symptom. As a tumor grows larger, the passage of feces can cause the tumor to bleed. it is common to see blood if the tumor is near the anus, but it is much more common for the blood to be hidden inside the stools. Weight Loss: An unexpected weight loss accompanied by other symptoms can indicate colon cancer. The pain and discomfort caused by a tumor can lead to loss of appetite, which in turn results in weight loss. Changes in Bowel Habits: If you are consistently constipated or have diarrhea, this must be evaluated by a physician. Changes in bowel habits also include gas and producing thinner stools. Thinner stools are usually the result of a tumor obstructing the passage of feces. This is one of the more common colon cancer symptoms. Abdominal Discomfort: Abdominal discomfort can mean many things - bloating, swelling, cramping and feeling full. Abdominal Pain: Swelling and pain of the abdomen are also symptoms of colon cancer. This usually occurs when the intestine is blocked by a tumor. If the tumor grows large, then nausea and vomiting can occur. Fatigue: Fatigue is a symptom of many cancers. It can also be a symptom of many other conditions that aren't cancer related. Fatigue experienced with cancer can be mild or severe. Talking to Your Doctor: Many people feel shy to talk about bowel habits with their doctor, especially women. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, I can't stress how important it is to talk to your doctor! Better to be safe than sorry!
3 :
you have none till your later stages such as DUke stage 4 which mean it has made it to the lymph nodes and has spread to other organs sometimes symptoms start in Duke stage 3. The only way to know if you have colon cancer and to catch it early is getting a colonoscopy
4 :
Well, as the above answerer said, colon cancer doesn't show any symptoms until it's quite advanced. Hence, by the time I was diagnosed, I was a stage IIIC. But the symptoms I experienced were: - rectal bleeding (blood literally dripped from my behind) - painful stomach cramps - a feeling of not having emptied my bowels fully, kinda like feeling constipated - thin stools - fatigue What made me see a doctor was the cramps and bleeding!

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