Colon cancer: causes, stages, manifestations? Diet and nutrition?

Why does colon cancer occur?
What are the stages and symptoms?

And you often ask:
How is food related to it, what to eat and what not to eat? How should we eat?
Why do we do prevention?

Cancer is the scourge of all people. And no wonder, because the prognosis is usually poor.

And not only the prognosis, but the entire course of these serious diseases. A cancer diagnosis also poses an economic problem for the patient.

Colorectal cancer, regardless of the type, is one of the most common cancers. It is also one of the most common causes of death from cancer.

Colon cancer and precancers

Colorectal cancer is also often incorrectly referred to as colorectal cancer. In fact, colorectal cancer is only one of its types.

This misnomer is probably due to its frequent occurrence and subsequent misinterpretation in many sources.

The most common malignant disease of the colon and rectum:

1. colorectal cancer
2. Lymphoma
3. haemangioma
4. sarcoma

However, this does not change the fact that the mortality rate for any type of colon cancer is high. This is primarily due to late diagnosis of this serious and fatal disease. Preventive examinations and early detection of precancers are therefore crucial in its incidence and in the number of deaths.

Interesting:
Pre-cancer is a certain abnormality or malformation of the tissue in which a tumour later develops. This tissue tends to grow faster (expand, form neoplasms or overgrow), which leads to an increased risk of genetic abnormalities in such cell division. Pre-cancer can therefore be considered a precursor or a condition preceding the development of cancer.

Polyps are the most common cause of colon cancer

The most common cause of colon cancer tends to be neoplasia that arises at the site of precancerous growths. In this case, it arises at the site of benign growths of the intestinal lining.

These growths or formations protruding above the surface are called polyps. Genetics - familial adematous polyposis and diet are at the forefront of their formation.

Polyps are benign growths on the lining of the bowel and rectum. They may not automatically be malignant, but their diagnosis always means a high risk of cancer. The risk increases in direct proportion to the size and growth rate of the polyp.

They are most commonly found in the colon but can also be found in other parts of the bowel and rectum. A diagnosis of polyps in the bowel does not automatically mean an acute problem and the need for urgent management of the condition at the time of detection.

Polyps can grow for several decades before they reach a certain size and start to pose a risk of malignant transformation. Regular medical examinations can detect them very early and thus prevent the development of cancer.

If detected, these non-cancerous growths are prophylactically removed endoscopically. Despite their slow growth and the possibility of unproblematic diagnosis, the mortality rate is very high.

The reason for this is late diagnosis. In most cases, the patient himself is to blame, as he does not take note of the health check-ups even at an advanced age.

Interesting:
Familial adematous polyposis is an inherited disease caused by a defect in the APC gene. The result is the formation of not hundreds, but thousands of polyps in the colon and rectum. Patients with FAP have a very high risk of developing colon cancer, yet this disorder causes only about 1% of all cancers. The reason is not the severity of FAP. It is its rarity.

What prompts polyp formation and the occurrence of colon cancer?

The causes of polyps in the intestine can also be considered as the most common causes of colon cancer.

Yet they are far from the only potential danger. A combination of several factors contribute to its occurrence. Which are they?

• Genetics - Genetic predisposition has a hand in almost everything. Even the formation of polyps is influenced by it. The biggest threat is a disease called familial adematous polyposis.
• Age - The number and size of polyps increases with age. The first polyps usually appear around the age of 30, and the risk increases with each passing year. Up to 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people after the age of 50.
• Gender - Colorectal cancer is statistically more common in men. Every man over 50 should have a colonoscopy.
• Other diseases - Other pre-existing diseases can cause cancer. Lynch syndrome, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and other inflammatory bowel diseases or dysplasia are the most common. Breast cancer is also a risk factor. Diabetics have twice the incidence of colorectal cancer than non-diabetics.
• Obesity - Obesity has been shown to cause seven types of cancer. This includes bowel cancer.
• Diet - Certain foods have been scientifically proven to cause polyps and therefore colon cancer. These are mainly fatty meats and animal fats.
• Addictions - Alcohol, which is high risk, is at the forefront, followed closely by cigarettes.
• X-ray of the pelvic area - With neoplastic processes, it is at risk in relation to the development of rectal cancer.

Interesting:
The incidence of polyps, as well as colorectal cancer, is higher in developed countries. Experts agree that the cause is lifestyle and diet in these areas. Research shows a lower incidence of colon cancer in developing countries and among vegetarians.

Living with colon cancer from start to finish

The vast majority of colorectal cancers are diagnosed relatively late in life. For this reason, treatment tends to be difficult and often unsuccessful.

The condition progresses very quickly, the cancer cells spread to the surrounding area and in most cases the patient dies if the tumour is diagnosed late.

The course of the disease, from the first symptoms until the end of treatment or death, is often difficult. The patient suffers pain and other health problems and is severely limited in several areas.

Interesting:
The effect of probiotics and prebiotics is currently being investigated in the context of colorectal cancer prevention. These substances, used as an adjunct to antibiotic treatment, increase the beneficial intestinal microflora and reduce pathogenic microorganisms and other toxic substances, similar to fibre.

Asymptomatic stage of colorectal cancer

Not only is the cancer itself in its early stages asymptomatic, but sometimes precancer or diseases that often precede colon cancer are also present.

Polyposis is most often a condition that remains hidden for many years. The polyps grow asymptomatically on the mucosa until the cancer starts.

This period persists for many decades. The patient is unaware that a precursor to cancer is growing subtly in his digestive tract.

The tumour itself may also not be apparent at first. The patient therefore has no problems. As the condition progresses, some non-specific symptoms such as abdominal pain or diarrhoea may appear in some cases, which are of little significance.

Interesting:
The presence of polyps as precancerous lesions is sometimes detected by an incidental stool examination. In the stool, occult (hidden) bleeding is confirmed, which cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, it is not sufficient for a definitive diagnosis. For this, not only screening for occult bleeding is needed, but also other additional examinations such as rectal examination, rectoscopy, colonoscopy, sonography, CT colonography or biopsy.

Symptomatic stage of colorectal cancer

As the disease develops, the first symptoms appear. At the beginning, these are symptoms that are not very specific to the disease.

This may be the abdominal pain already mentioned, which is not pronounced at the beginning and is not given much importance by the patient himself. The pain gradually increases until it becomes regular or unbearable.

At first there are subtle disturbances of digestion and defecation. Diarrhoea is more frequent, constipation less frequent, or the two disturbances alternate.

Normal stools are rare, but later they are rare. When the tumour grows, resistance can be seen in the abdomen.

Fresh blood appears in the stool as a result of bleeding from the tumour. The presence of blood is alternated by more severe bleeding, which is manifested by anaemia of varying degrees in the laboratory. Anaemia (haemoglobin deficiency) causes low physical performance, easy fatigability, exhaustion and excessive sleepiness in the patient.

End-stage colorectal cancer

In the last stages, the symptoms are fully developed and the patient is bedridden. He is so exhausted that he is no longer self-sufficient and often relies on the help of others.

He is plagued by intense pain, which later ceases to work even on opiate treatment. In addition, the patient is constantly struggling with digestive problems and excessive weight loss.

Other symptoms are associated with the metastatic spread of the tumour to the surrounding area. These vary according to the site of the metastasis (dyspnoea, disorientation, disturbances of consciousness, convulsions, pathological bone fractures).

Prevention is based on diet

A healthy and balanced diet has a global beneficial effect on a person's health. Poor lifestyle and poor diet also play a major role in the development of colon cancer. Together with genetic predisposition, they are an essential aspect in its development.

Good dietary habits have an important influence in preventing the development of colon cancer. Patients who have other risk factors or diseases associated with the development of colon cancer should pay particular attention to their diet.

A healthy diet, regular physical activity and prevention of obesity are crucial milestones in cancer prevention.

Interesting:
Overweight, obesity and especially abdominal obesity (fat accumulating in the abdominal area) are scientifically proven risk factors for not only colon cancer, but also for six other cancers. These are oesophageal, gallbladder, pancreatic, kidney, breast and uterine cancer. The evidence is there and it is growing.

Which foods are involved?

Fats are mainly involved in the development of polyps and colorectal cancer. Therefore, there is an emphasis on reducing the intake of foods that are fatty, greasy. Also, the intake of sugars, which are stored in the body as fats when they are eaten in excess, should be reduced. Sugars are more dangerous than fats.

Excessive fat deposition is not only affected by diet but also by insufficient reduction of fat particles. Therefore, regular physical activity should become part of a person's lifestyle. Obesity is also a significant risk factor for cancer.

Tip: Sugar, our sweetest enemy

Table with a list of risky foods:

How should we eat right?

The first priority is to avoid or at least reduce the dangerous foods listed above. The diet should be rich mainly in vegetables, fibre and fruit, with vegetables being number one in the diet. Of meat products, poultry is preferable.

Fibre, as a non-digestible component of food, has an irreplaceable role. It removes from the intestine other undigested food debris (mainly undigested and rotting meat) and toxic substances that may contribute to cancer.

It is recommended not only for prevention but also for patients with existing polyps or cancer.

Tip: Fiber as prevention and cure. How much do we need per day?

Table with a list of suitable foods: