Colon cancer is a condition in which there is an uncontrolled growth and multiplication of cells in the colon (large intestine). The colon is the lower and final part of the digestive tract where the body draws out water and salt from solid waste. The waste then moves through the rectum and exits the body through the anus.
Common risk factors for colorectal cancer include increasing age, a family history of colon cancer, colon polyps, and long-standing ulcerative colitis. Most colon cancers develop from polyps lining the colon. While the polyps are initially non-cancerous and harmless, over time, they can develop into cancer.
Colon polyps and early cancer may have no cancer-specific early signs or symptoms. Therefore, regular colorectal cancer screening is important. Diagnosis of colon cancer is done by colonoscopy, which visualizes the entire colon, along with biopsy confirmation of cancerous tissue.
The treatment and prognosis of colon cancer depend on the location, size, stage, and extent of cancer spread, as well as the overall health of the individual. In the early stages of colon cancer, the tumor is removed through surgery. The treatment in advanced stages involves chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or their combinations.
