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According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in America among both men and women. For those living in and around, Gilbert, Arizona, the team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery is an invaluable resource. Learn more in a one-on-one consultation that you can schedule over the phone or by requesting one online today.
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is the term used to describe two distinct types of cancer: colon cancer and rectal cancer. Your colon is a 6-foot-long tube of muscle and other tissues that connect your small intestine to your rectum. Alternatively, your rectum is an 8-inch chamber connecting your colon to your anus.
Together, your colon and rectum form your large intestine and work to process waste and prepare it for evacuation from your body. Colorectal cancer occurs when the cells lining these organs begin to multiply at an abnormal rate.
What are some symptoms of colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer usually doesn’t present symptoms in the early stages. It’s crucial to adhere to your doctor’s cancer screening recommendations to increase the chance of detecting colorectal cancer in its earliest stage.
When symptoms are present, they can include:
- Changes in bowel movements like constipation or diarrhea
- Feeling like you can’t fully empty your bowels
- Sudden, urgent need to defecate
- Pelvic pain
- Bloating or belly pain
- Stools that contain blood or are long and thin
- Loss of appetite, weight loss, and fatigue
If you notice these changes be sure to book a diagnostic exam right away.
How is colorectal cancer treated?
The team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery has extensive training and experience in colorectal cancer care, creating a customized treatment path designed around your needs and goals.
The first step following a colorectal cancer diagnosis is screening to ensure the cancer has not spread to other areas of your body. This process might include blood testing, X-rays, and other imaging tools.
The central focus during treatment is to maintain or improve the quality of your life. Surgery is a common approach and works to remove the cancerous tissue in your large intestine and possibly some nearby lymph nodes and fat. Most commonly, the healthy portions of your colon and rectum can be reconnected.
When reconnection is not possible, your specialist can create an opening in your skin to route waste into an external collection bag that you empty as needed. This approach, called a colostomy, is more common with rectal cancer when there is insufficient tissue remaining to reconnect with the colon.
Chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy are also options. Targeted therapy can be an excellent approach and examines the genetic makeup of your tumor to determine the best treatments.
To explore these treatments in more detail, call The team at Tri-City Colo-Rectal Surgery or request an appointment online today.