Colon Cancer Essay -- essays research papers

colon CancerWhat is the disease?Colon and rectal crabby person develop in the digestive tract, which is also called the gastrointestinal, or GI, tract. The digestive system processes food for energy and rids the body of solid screw up matter (fecal matter or stool). Colon stackcer and rectal cancer have many features in common. nightimes they ar referred to together as colorectal cancer. Over 95% of colorectal cancers are ad enocarcinomas. These are cancers of the glandular cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum. Other, less common typesetters case of tumors may also develop in the colon and rectum. Carcinoid tumors develop from hormone-producing cells of the intestine. GI stromal tumors develop in the connective tissue and muscle layers in the border of the colon and rectum. Lymphomas are cancers of immune system cells that typically develop in lymph nodes but may also start in the colon and rectum or other organs.Colorectal cancers are thought to develop slow ly oer a period of several years. Before a true cancer develops, there usually are precancerous changes in the lining of the colon or rectum. These changes might be dysplasia or adenomatous polyps. A polyp is a festering of tissue into the center of the colon or rectum. Some types of polyps (hyperplastic polyps and seditious polyps) are not precancerous. However, having adenomatous polyps, also know as adenomas, does increase a persons risk of ontogeny cancer, especially if there are many polyps or they are large. In contrast to the indwelling growth of a polyp, a true cancer can grow inward toward the hollow part of the colon or rectum, and/or outward done the wall of these organs. If not treated, cells from the tumor may break away and mete out through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body. There, they can form "colony" tumors. This process is called metastasis.The colon has four incisions. The first instalment is called the ascending colon. It extends upward on the right side of the abdomen. The second section is called the transverse colon since it goes across the body to the left side. There it joins the tertiary section, the descending colon, which continues downward on the left side. The fourth section is known as the sigmoid colon because of its S-shape. The sigmoid colon joins the rectum, which in run joins the anus, or the opening where waste matter passes o... ...lon cancers develop from adenomatous polyps. Polyps are precancerous growths in the colon and rectum. Removing them can turn away a persons risk by preventing some colorectal cancers before they are fully formed. Is diet a part of this cure?     People can lower their risk of developing colorectal cancer by managing the risk factors that they can control, such as diet and physical activity. It is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole food grain foods and to limit intake of high-fat foods. Physical activity is a nother area that citizenry can control. Even small amounts of exercise on a continual basis can be helpful, at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. Also, achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Some studies rede that taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid or folate can lower colorectal cancer risk. Other studies suggest that increasing calcium intake via supplements or low-fat dairy products may lower risk. Studies of vitamin A, C, D, and E supplements have yielded conflicting results, and additional research is needed. Work Cited content Cancer Institute, http//cancernet.nci.nih.gov/wyntk_pubs/colon.htm