Is bowel cancer one of the most common cancers worldwide
Categories: HEALTH
Is bowel cancer one of the most common cancers worldwide
Among the many dreaded cancers, bowel cancer or colon cancer is considered the most common cancer worldwide. Bowel cancer begins in the large intestine. To understand where this cancer begins, bowel cancer is sometimes called colon or rectal cancer. This cancer sometimes begins in the small intestine, but cancer of the small intestine is much rarer than cancer of the large intestine. Bowel cancer has been recognized as one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK.
Common Symptoms of Bowel Cancer
The 3 main symptoms of bowel cancer are blood in the stool while passing stool, changes in bowel habits such as more or more frequent and less stools, and abdominal pain. These symptoms are very common and most people do not develop bowel cancer with them. As blood in stool is more often also caused by piles and changes in bowel habit or abdominal pain can also be usually a result of the foods we eat. About 9 out of 10 people with bowel cancer are over the age of 60, so as people get older, these symptoms become more and more significant and they persist despite simple treatments. The symptoms of bowel cancer can be subtle and do not necessarily make us feel sick.
Bowel Cancer Treatment
1. By a combination of different treatments: Usually bowel cancer is treated using a combination of different treatments and it also depends on where the cancer is in our intestine and how far it has spread.
2. By Chemotherapy: In chemotherapy, drugs are used to kill cancer cells.
3. By surgery: The cancerous portion of the bowel is surgically removed. This is the most effective way to cure bowel cancer.
4. Radiotherapy: In radiotherapy, radiation is used to kill cancer cells.
5. Biological Remedies: Biological treatments are also done for the treatment of Bowel Cancer. In this, a new type of drug that increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy and stops the cancer from spreading. The chances of a complete cure for most types of cancer depend on how far it has progressed at the time of diagnosis.
6. By Sigmoidoscopy: Most people with bowel cancer can be diagnosed by flexible sigmoidoscopy.
7. By Colonoscopy: Some cancers can only be diagnosed with a more comprehensive examination of the colon. Two tests used for this are colonoscopy and computerized tomography (CT) colonography. Colonoscopy involves examining a person's entire large bowel using an instrument called a colonoscopy, which is similar to a sigmoidoscope but slightly longer. The bowel should be empty when the colonoscopy is performed. A sedative will be given to help you relax during the test, after which the doctor will insert the colonoscope into the rectum and move it along the length of the large intestine. It is not usually painful, but can be uncomfortable.