Oncology: intestinal cancer

Oncology: bowel cancer or a colon tumour is a dangerous disease that requires comprehensive treatment.

The determination of the diagnostic method remains with doctors. They most often use colonoscopy with biopsy and analysis for internal bleeding. Pathological examination of tissue fragments is mandatory for making a diagnosis of a polyp or cancer of the rectum and colon.

Without pathological studies, it is impossible to distinguish a benign tumour (adenoma) from a malignant (carcinoma). The quality of pathological research is of tremendous importance since the error in its implementation costs the life of the patient. The tumour marker CEA (cancer-embryonic antigen) allows monitoring the disease with high efficiency.

Cases

Oncology: bowel cancer is diagnosed by the most informative method for the study of PET-CT(Positron emission tomography-computed tomography) in the following cases:

• determining the stage of the disease in patients with single metastases, for example, in the liver or lungs;
• to decide on the possibility of surgical intervention if necessary;
• in case of suspected recurrence of the disease.

Oncology: bowel cancer and its signs

When the diagnosis of bowel cancer and the stage of the tumour is beyond doubt, the consultation of experts at the oncological conference decides on the treatment tactics. Doctors may use surgical treatment, irradiation of a tumour, both before and after surgery. They also carry out chemotherapy following internationally accepted standards.

Rectal cancer does not show specific symptoms. Colon cancer may also not show symptoms. The manifestation of signs of colorectal cancer depends on the stage of the disease. Thus, intestinal cancer may not show any symptoms, and may have the following signs:

• anaemia;
• feeling of discomfort and pain in the abdomen;
• bloating;
• constipation or conversely diarrhoea;
• blood in the stool;
• weight loss and general malaise.

As a tumour grows, cancer shows signs more clearly than in the initial stage.

Symptoms

Symptoms to suspect cancer of the cecum include dizziness, tachycardia, general weakness, discolouration of faeces and rectal bleeding. Usually, aching and constant pain in the right lower abdomen accompanies carcinoma of the cecum.

Oncology: bowel cancer is one of the most common among gastrointestinal tumours. For the prevention of pathology, doctors recommend to monitor the state of your health, as well as carry out colonic irrigation.