COLON CANCER TREATMENT - FORTIS HEALTHCARE

COLON CANCER TREATMENT

Cancer of the last 7 feet of the large intestine. It often occurs along with rectal cancer (colorectal cancer). A variety of tumors are possible, but the most common are adenocarcinomas. It is highly treatable and often curable when diagnosed early. Gastrointestinal cancers include colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer and stomach (gastric) cancer. Colorectal cancer may be diagnosed early with after fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopy can improve the prognosis. Surgical treatments may use colon removal (colectomy) and colostomy, which diverts food being processed in the colon.

Colorectal cancer refers to the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the colon or rectum, which are part of the digestive system. This cancer usually begins as polyps, which are abnormal growths in the inner lining of the colon or rectum. Polyps are not cancer but can become cancerous over the years. More than 95 percent of colorectal cancer is adenocarcinoma, which is cancer of the gland cells that line the inside wall of the large intestine.

Some risk factors for colorectal cancer cannot be controlled, such as having a family history of this cancer, age and ethnicity. A person with a history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease also has a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer.

However, some lifestyle habits can increase the risk of this cancer. A diet high in animal fat and low in fiber, physical inactivity and smoking are some of the lifestyle habits that increase the risk for colorectal cancer.

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Neuroblastoma - An Overview

Neuroblastoma is a rare cancerous tumor that grows from immature nerve cells usually in the abdominal area. It is most common in infants and children, but can also occur in adults. This cancer usually grows in cells of the nervous system but also may grow in the cells of the adrenal glands, which produce and release adrenaline and cortisone. Neuroblastoma may be present at birth but also may be detected later, usually before the age of 5 and very rarely after age 10.

Immature nerve cells called neuroblasts vary in their development. Neuroblasts that do not develop into functioning nerve cells may die with no trace, develop into a benign tumor or become a malignant tumor. The cause for most neuroblastomas is unknown, although a tiny percentage run in families.

Most neuroblastomas do not produce symptoms early in their development. Consequently, they are not diagnosed until they have spread (metastasized) and begin to produce symptoms. Signs and symptoms of neuroblastoma can be related to the site of the metastasis, such as an abdominal mass, bone pain or difficulty moving or paralysis. Neuroblastomas in the adrenal glands can cause the release of hormones from the cancer cells and produce high blood pressure and a rapid heart beat.

A neuroblastoma mass is often discovered during a routine physical examination or in an x-ray taken to diagnose an unrelated condition. Cells from the tumor are analyzed by a pathologist and the cancer is staged, which will determine the severity and spread of the cancer. The information is combined with the age of the child, DNA factors, cell type, rate of growth and spread to determine the patient’s treatment and prognosis.

There is no known prevention method for neuroblastoma, and usually detection before symptoms appear is not possible.

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