Symptoms and treatment of bowel cancer. Bowel cancer - symptoms Determine the stage of bowel cancer

Oncological diseases are very common and occupy one of the first places among other diseases. These include bowel cancer. In the elderly, the frequency of the disease increases, but it also occurs in children and young people. Symptoms of bowel cancer: abdominal pain of a different nature, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, bloody stools. This disease is dangerous for human life and therefore, at the first symptoms, you should consult a doctor.

Colon cancer is a dangerous disease, so it is important to know the first symptoms of this disease.

What it is?

Intestinal cancer (ICB code 10 - C17−20) is an oncological disease characterized by the presence of a malignant tumor on the intestinal mucosa. It is located in any part of the intestine and begins to develop slowly. Cancer begins its development with a polyp and slowly degenerates into a malignant process. Then it continues to grow, and cancer cells penetrate the lymphatic and circulatory systems, oncology spreads throughout the body and causes metastases. 95% of tumors of the large and small intestines are adenocarcinomas.

Other types of bowel cancer include:

• exophytic;
• endophytic;
• mixed.

Development factors

There are such factors and causes of bowel cancer:

Colon cancer develops against the background of an unhealthy lifestyle, aging, injuries, diseases of other organs.

• bad habits;
• the presence of H. pylori bacteria;
• age;
• eating junk food;
• the use of a large amount of animal fats, preservatives, smoked meats and pickles;
• chronic inflammation of the pancreas;
• excess weight;
• genetic factor;
• frequent inflammatory bowel disease;
• stool disorder (constipation).

Stages of the disease

There are such stages of development and course:

In the early stages, most neoplasms manifest themselves in the same way: they are asymptomatic. The clinical symptoms of cancer and its severity depend on the size, stage of development, form of growth and localization of the neoplasm. With the progression of growth and a large number of metastases, the symptoms are varied and very pronounced.

Depending on the pathogenesis, the following clinical symptoms are distinguished:

• local symptoms - signs of the presence of education in the intestine;
• secondary - due to an increase in the neoplasm, the patency and functioning of the intestine is disturbed;
• manifestations of pathology, due to the penetration of the tumor into the organs and the formation of complications and metastases;
• general - due to the influence of cancer on the body.

Syndromes at an early stage of development

The initial stages of bowel cancer are manifested by local symptoms. It occurs periodically, is not very pronounced and does not focus on them the attention of the patient and the attending physician. The first signs of bowel cancer are feces with blood and mucus. At the initial stage, blood in the feces in the form of streaks. With the progression of the growth of the neoplasm, more blood is released. It turns black and mixes with the feces, causing the color of the feces to change. In the later stages of the disease, the feces are foul-smelling and in the form of a blood clot. Mucus in its pure form is rare. In the early stages, it is excreted with blood, and later with pus.

There are also such symptoms of bowel cancer at an early stage, which manifest themselves in a child and in an adult:

• weakness;
• increased fatigue;
• weight loss;
• anemia appears;
• taste preferences change and there is an aversion to certain types of food;
• change in stool (constipation or diarrhea in cancer).

Secondary signs of the disease

Symptoms begin to appear when the malignant tumor becomes large and narrows the intestinal lumen. At the same time, the rigidity of its wall is also revealed. If the cancer is located in the upper part of the rectum, symptoms of intestinal obstruction of varying severity begin to appear. It begins with symptoms of a violation of the movement of feces through the intestine.

These symptoms include:

• constipation;
• bloating;
• the appearance of rumbling;
• increased peristalsis;
• I have a stomachache.

Symptoms during germination in neighboring organs

If the malignant form is spread in the lower parts of the rectum, it leads to the defeat of the anus, causing pain. The tumor also spreads to the prostate and to the vagina. Bowel cancer symptoms are different for women and men. Men will have difficulty urinating. If the cancer has affected the upper and middle sections of the intestine, then the neoplasm will grow into the bladder. As a result, a fistula is formed between the intestine and the bladder, an infectious lesion of the urinary tract and fever develop.

With the germination of the neoplasm in the uterus, the manifestation does not occur. If the tumor grows into the vagina, the patient will form a recto-vaginal fistulous tract and stool and gases will begin to be released through the vagina. A common symptom in patients: severe cramping pain in the lower abdomen. The course of the disease and the temperature in bowel cancer in women looks like with an infectious fever.

In the rectum, the neoplasm is injured by feces, as a result of which it becomes inflamed. Further, this inflammation passes to nearby tissues. In such cases, a pelvic abscess develops, perforation of the intestinal wall may occur, which will lead to peritonitis. These are all considered complications of the disease.

Metastasis of bowel cancer most often occurs in the liver. Symptoms of metastases appear only with severe damage to the internal organ. When placing a tumor near the gate of the liver, the patient will have yellowness of the skin. Due to purulent fusion of metastases, the patient has clinical symptoms of a liver abscess.

General manifestations of the disease

Reveal the main symptoms:

• stool disorder (constipation is replaced by diarrhea with bowel cancer);
• the presence of blood clots in the stool;
• discomfort, heaviness and pain in the abdomen (right and left);
• the appearance of aversion to meat;
• loss of appetite and body weight;
• the appearance of anemia.

Diagnostic methods

If the first symptoms appear or there is a suspicion of the presence of an ailment, you need to contact a proctologist, gastroenterologist, surgeon and oncologist. The task of doctors is to identify and recognize a serious illness. They will take an anamnesis of the disease, conduct an objective examination, palpation, percussion of the abdomen and rectal examination. Also, specialists will conduct a differential diagnosis with other ailments (stomach cancer, Crohn's disease, the presence of benign polyps, etc.) and make a preliminary diagnosis. The following diagnostic procedures are required:

1. analysis of feces for the presence of occult blood;
2. irrigoscopy;
3. sigmoidoscopy;
4. colonoscopy (helps to identify the lesion);
5. biopsy of the intestinal lining;
6. CT and MRI.

Treatment and its types

Treatment of bowel cancer must be undertaken from the onset of oncology. When the patient shows early signs of the disease, he feels unwell, you need to quickly turn to specialists. Doctors must examine the patient, check the tests and determine at what stage the deviation is and, according to this, prescribe treatment. For treatment, radiation therapy for cancer is used along with surgery and chemotherapy. Even to prevent the development of infection, an antibiotic is prescribed, and for constipation, a laxative. Also, each patient is prescribed a diet and select therapy at home.

Bowel cancer occurs equally often in both men and women - its feature is poor clinical symptoms in the early stages of the disease. It is for this reason that a severe diagnosis is determined only at stages 3-4, when the possibilities of medicine are very limited. Consider the first signs of bowel cancer, manifestations by stages and prognostic data.

Bowel cancer - what is it?

Intestinal cancer is a group of malignant neoplasms that appear in various parts of the large and small intestine and cause severe disruption of the digestive tract and other systems. Depending on the location of the tumor, there are:

1. Cancer of the small intestine. It occurs quite rarely, in about 1-1.5% of cases of all oncological diseases of the digestive tract. Mostly elderly and senile people are ill, the disease affects men more often than women. Of all the departments of the small intestine, tumors prefer to be localized in the duodenum, less often in the jejunum and ileum.
2. Colon cancer. The predominant number of tumors in this area is located in the sigmoid and rectum. Among people who prefer meat, pathology is observed more often than among vegetarians.

Contributing factors for the development of oncology are:

• Precancerous diseases of the digestive system: adenomas, polyps, ulcerative colitis, ulcers, Crohn's disease and erosion.
• Features of the diet: the predominance of spicy, fried, spicy and meat dishes. Limited intake of plant foods.
• Genetic predisposition (familial adenomatous polyposis).
• Chronic stool disorders (constipation).
• Age.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Chemical carcinogens in food.

Stages of bowel cancer, photo

photo of cancer development by stages

All malignant formations in this area are divided into a number of stages, depending on the prevalence of the process and the presence of metastases.

There are 4 stages:

• 1st stage. The tumor affects the mucosa and submucosa. There are no metastases.
• 2nd stage. It is divided into 2 sub-stages:
  2a - the tumor does not grow into the muscle wall, there are no metastases, its prevalence is within half of the intestine;
  2b - grows into the intestinal wall, but does not go beyond it, there are no metastases.
• 3rd stage. Has 2 substages:
  3a - grows into the muscle wall and captures the semicircle of the intestine, nearby lymph nodes are not affected;
  3b - there are many metastases in nearby lymph nodes.
• Stage 4 - a large tumor, grows into the surrounding tissues, there are many regional and distant metastases.

In the international system, bowel cancer is classified according to the TNM system, where T is the size of the primary tumor, N is regional metastases, and M is distant metastases.

According to this classification, T1 - the tumor grows only to the submucosa, and T4 - grows into the serous and muscular membranes and passes to other organs and tissues; N1 - regional metastases in 1-3 lymph nodes, and N2 - in 4 or more; M0 - no distant metastases, M2 - yes.

Important! Assess the stage of cancer based on data obtained from examinations before, after and during surgery.

Determining the type, form and stage of cancer helps the doctor choose treatment tactics.

The first symptoms of bowel cancer develop very slowly. The clinical picture largely depends on the location of the tumor. Depending on the area affected, early bowel cancer symptoms may include:

1. If the small intestine is affected:

• nausea, urge to vomit;
• pain in the abdomen;
• bloating and flatulence;
• weight loss;
• appetite disorders;
• weakness and fatigue.

2. If the large intestine is affected:

• diarrhea, constipation;
• bloating;
• pain in the epigastrium;
• loss of appetite;
• weight remains normal or increases;
• weakness, low-grade fever, symptoms of intoxication.

The main problem of cancerous tumors is the absence of specific symptoms in the early stages, so patients go to the doctor at stages 3-4, when treatment options are already limited.

development of symptoms according to cancer stages 1-3

With the progression of the tumor, severe manifestations of bowel cancer develop, which force the patient to seek help:

1. Oncology of the small intestine:

• vomiting, weight loss;
• intense pain in the abdomen;
• with a gigantic tumor size, intestinal obstruction develops, which is characterized by repeated vomiting, bloating, dehydration;
• with bowel torsion, necrosis and peritonitis develop;
• if metastases penetrate the liver, jaundice may develop;
• bleeding;
• fluid in the abdominal cavity, etc.

Colon cancer symptoms:

• stool problems: constipation, diarrhea;
• digestive disorders: bloating, rumbling, flatulence;
• blood in the stool - characteristic of rectal cancer;
• severe pain in the abdomen;
• weakness, weight loss;
• tenesmus - false urge to defecate;
• with the development of complications (inflammation, fistulas, abscesses), other symptoms join.

A complication of cancer can be abscesses and intestines with the development of peritonitis (inflammation of the peritoneum). In addition, pathological fistulas are often formed (between the intestines and the bladder or vagina), which significantly complicate the patient's life.

Colon cancer with metastases

This area is well and abundantly supplied with blood, therefore metastases can quickly appear in various organs and tissues. Most often, this cancer metastasizes through the portal vein system to the liver, but its cells can end up in the lungs, bones, and even the brain.

Metastases reduce the percentage of a patient's five-year survival rate, and can kill a person faster than the primary tumor itself. After the detection of distant metastases, the prognosis is very deplorable and the patient is promised from six months to a year of survival.

How long do people live with bowel cancer?

When a patient asks how long he has to live with stage 4 bowel cancer, there is no definite answer. Five-year survival in such patients ranges from 5-6%. For comparison, the prognosis for the detection and treatment of bowel cancer at stages 1-2 is 70%.

It all depends on the possibilities of medical treatment, the characteristics of the tumor and, to some extent, on the combination of circumstances.

How long do patients with metastases live? In the presence of distant metastases, the survival period is reduced to a year. And in the absence of metastases, most patients live over 3 years.

Important! In the absence of metastases, more than half of patients are cured of the disease.

Bowel cancer treatment

Treatment is chosen taking into account the stage and prevalence of the process. They prefer the surgical method in combination with radiation therapy. There are many options for surgery depending on the location of the tumor. Additionally, radiation therapy is carried out taking into account the histological type of the tumor.

In stage 4 cancer, palliative operations are performed (they alleviate the patient's condition): fecal fistulas or bypass anastomoses are applied with the development of intestinal obstruction. The patient at the 4th stage receives medications designed to alleviate his condition.

Chemotherapy is used for stage 4 cancer or for tumors that are sensitive to this method.

Preventive measures are the timely treatment of chronic inflammatory pathology. In addition, patients at risk are advised to adhere to proper nutrition, reduce the number of meat dishes and prevent the development of constipation.

Patients with precancerous diseases are subject to dispensary observation and must monitor their condition annually.

Intestinal cancer is a serious pathology, and if the patient is concerned about incomprehensible symptoms, you need to consult a doctor in a timely manner and deal with your health.

According to statistical analyzes conducted by oncologists in a number of European countries, malignant organ lesions are among the top three cancer diagnoses in the human body.

At the same time, such a sad prognosis tends to increase, and, according to many experts, in the coming years, mortality from intestinal tumors may become the main reason for the death of hundreds of thousands of people in the middle and older age groups.

Intestinal cancer is a neoplasm, malignant in nature, the focus of formation of which is the inner walls of the mucous tissues of the organ.

The disease can affect any of its departments, and regardless of where exactly the tumor is located - whether it is the blind, large, colon or rectum - the pathology is extremely difficult.

At the same time, the symptoms of the disease are pronounced, however, at the stage of formation, the first signs of the development of atypical processes do not manifest themselves clearly enough, which makes it difficult to diagnose it in time and reduce the patient's chances for a complete cure. This is why early detection is so important in the treatment of intestinal tumors.

Symptoms

The main role in the early detection of the disease is played by self-diagnosis and the attentive attitude of a person to his body, the correct understanding and acceptance of those signals that may indicate an approaching mortal danger.

Due to the fact that this disease is quite common, and the number of cases increases annually, each person should know the main clinical types of its course in order to be able to recognize the pathology in time:

enterocolitic- in a situation where an anomaly is formed in the left part of the organ (excess liquid leaves this zone in fecal fragments), the processes of liquefaction and fermentation of the department begin.

This finds its manifestation in loose stools, spontaneous attacks of diarrhea, which are replaced by prolonged constipation. These symptoms are similar to signs of enterocolitis, with which this disease is often confused;

• pseudospastic- the symptomatology is bright, the inflammatory processes developing in the body resemble peritonitis. Temperature drops reach a critical point, chills appear, a feeling of cold against the background of intense pain. Nausea and poorly controlled vomiting episodes are often present;
• dyspeptic- manifestations are blurred. There may be some changes in taste buds (a sour or, on the contrary, a bitter taste appears). As the disease progresses, heartburn and frequent belching are added. The pain is practically absent, but some discomfort during the action of the digestive processes is still observed;
• stenosing- as the tumor grows, the intestinal lumen quickly narrows in diameter and after a short period of time is able to completely block it. This will not allow fecal deposits to come out. Clinically, this is accompanied by constipation, colic and excessive gas formation. The patient complains of bloating associated with pain during and after a bowel movement.

Diagnostics in the clinic

Modern methods of clinical diagnostics make it possible to identify pathology at a stage when irreversible processes in the body have not yet started and a complete cure for bowel cancer is possible.

A wide range of diagnostic measures will allow the doctor to choose the optimal treatment regimen in each case, having a complete clinical picture of the progression of the disease.

Inspection

The primary examination by a specialized specialist begins with palpation, during which the doctor carefully probes the entire surface of the peritoneum. You can understand the level of muscle tension, sometimes, with a large tumor, quickly identify its location, and sometimes even understand its nature. Intestinal cancer can be indicated by bloating, focal seals, and sometimes pain.

If during the process of palpation the doctor has suspicions, the patient is given a siphon enema to exclude the version of the presence of fecal stones that have manifestations similar to cancer.

The next stage of the medical examination may be a rectal examination, during which the doctor determines the condition of the canal and fragments adjacent to the rectum. So it is possible to assess the state of the mucous membrane of the inner surface of the fecal canal and examine the state of fecal deposits for atypical impurities.

Blood tests

A qualitative change in the structural content of the main indicators of blood plasma makes it possible to judge not only the presence of cancerous formations in the human body, but also the body's ability to resist the disease, as well as understand the degree of aggressiveness of the anomaly. The patient is assigned:

• general blood analysis- a sharp decrease in the number of erythrocytes, against the background of a jump in the leukocyte level, low hemoglobin, and as a result, the development of anemia - a comprehensive collection of data on these main criteria makes it possible to speak with a high degree of probability of the presence of malignant processes;
• response to ESR- if the cells are prone to atypical division, there will be too much erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the patient's blood;
• coprogram- with oncological diseases of the intestine, the presence of hidden blood impurities in the feces is characteristic. Their presence is negligible and is determined only by this blood test;
• coagulogram- excess of the blood coagulability index, the main reason for this phenomenon is the processes of cellular mutation;
• tumor markers- the analysis makes it possible to accurately diagnose the presence of cancer cells in the organ in question.

Collection of anamnesis

Pathology develops slowly, sometimes its initial stage can last for years. Naturally, at this stage, few people turn to the clinic for help with some primary signs that are characteristic of a host of other, less dangerous diseases.

The main task of the doctor at this stage is to collect the most complete information from the patient through a survey, his complaints and suspicions, and genetic predisposition.

The doctor is interested in everything: the general physical condition of a person, any changes in the body that may alert, sudden weight loss for no apparent reason, the presence of acute forms of certain ailments - pancreatitis, jaundice, ascites, which are provocateurs of the formation of cancerous tumors.

X-ray with barium

Studying with the use of X-ray equipment gives a chance to understand exactly where the tumor is concentrated, what shape it has, and how far the pathology is able to block, or has already blocked, the intestinal lumen. Additionally, the level of its elasticity and the ability to stretch as the anomaly grows, intestinal motility and the degree of its functionality are analyzed.

Barium, being a contrast component, like all pigmenting compounds, improves the visual perception of the pathology and facilitates the correct diagnosis with minimal risk of mechanical injury to the affected area.

This factor is considered very important for the manifestations of oncology, since any violation of the structural integrity of a malignant tumor can provoke its rapid progression, activate the processes of metastasis ejection and cause a rapid death.

CT and MRI

The most accurate diagnostic methods providing the most complete picture of the course of the disease.

With the help of pigment, you can see the tumor in a three-dimensional image, understand its size, shape and place of spread, determine the presence or absence of metastases, understand the qualitative state of the bile ducts and the presence of internal bleeding in the peritoneum, which almost always occurs against the background of intestinal cancer.

Most often, an intestinal tumor is an irregularly shaped cellular formation, rapidly progressing in growth, having a convex structure and a pink, blood-streaked shade.

EGDS

The purpose of the survey is not to identify, but more in-depth study of the lesion. With the help of a device inserted rectally, the presence of metastases, the degree of damage to the girdle tissues and neighboring organs are detected. So you can get maximum information about the state of the lymphatic system for remote metastasis.

A microcamera mounted in the device throws a special capsule into the affected area, which is capable of taking a large number of pictures. This allows you to consider those fragments of the body that are located remotely and their review by traditional research methods is organic.

Irrigoscopy

In a number of cases, the psychological factor interferes with the conduct of deep intra-intestinal examinations, it is advisable to conduct irrigoscopy - by enema, a person is given a special contrast composition into the organ having a high degree of sensitivity to x-rays.

So the intestines are better visible and the slightest anomalies against the background of the color pigment will be clearly visible. In addition, during the study, a specialist can use additional devices - ultrasound to study the walls of the peritoneum or conduct a virtual colonoscopy.

Sigmoidoscopy

Special sensors that are inserted into the internal cavity of the organ, make it possible to see in detail the condition of the mucous tissues and thus reveal even the most insignificant changes in their structure.

In this way, it is possible to find a tumor with a size of only a few mm in diameter, which will allow, during a routine examination, to detect cancer at the first stage of its progression, when the chance for recovery is high enough.

This video shows what the doctor sees on the monitor during the procedure:

Colonoscopy

The essence of the method is the use of a highly sensitive colorectal sensor, which is inserted through the anus and, having reached the affected area, displays the parameters, outlines and location of the anomaly on the monitor of the ultrasound machine.

If malignancy is suspected during colonoscopy, fragmentary sampling of tissue affected by cancer cells for biopsy is possible for final confirmation or refutation of the diagnosis.

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Intestinal cancer refers to oncological diseases that form in the large and small intestines. It occurs in both men and women. Signs of bowel cancer are quite minor at the initial stage.

A malignant tumor is formed on the mucous surfaces of the intestine, and more often the neoplasm appears in the large intestine, there are times when it is found in the sigmoid, rectum, colon or caecum. The survival prognosis of patients with any cancer depends on the stage at which it was detected. The sooner a tumor can be detected, the more chances the patient has for complete healing.

Why bowel cancer develops, what are the first signs of the disease and what methods of prevention exist - we will consider further in the article.

About bowel cancer

Colon cancer is a malignant transformation of the epithelium that can affect any segment of the intestine.

The most susceptible to this disease are people in the age group after 45 years, men and women to the same extent, every 10 years the incidence rate increases by 10%. Intestinal cancer differs in its histological structure, in 96% of cases it develops from the glandular cells of the mucous membrane (adenocarcinoma).

Depending on the location of the tumor, there are:

• Cancer of the small intestine. It occurs quite rarely, in about 1-1.5% of cases of all oncological diseases of the digestive tract. Mostly elderly and senile people are ill, the disease affects men more often than women. Of all the departments of the small intestine, tumors prefer to be localized in the duodenum, less often in the jejunum and ileum.
• Colon cancer. The predominant number of tumors in this area is located in the sigmoid and rectum. Among people who prefer meat, pathology is observed more often than among vegetarians.

It takes about 5-10 years for bowel cancer to develop from a polyp, for example in the colon. An intestinal tumor grows from a small polyp, the symptoms of which in the first stages are characterized by sluggish symptoms.

It can manifest itself, for example, with an upset gastrointestinal tract, which distracts from the primary cancer, since many do not pay attention to the discomfort in the intestines with the disorder, not knowing what kind of pain in intestinal cancer can occur, and therefore they treat diarrhea.

Causes

Causes of bowel cancer:

1. Elderly age. Here an important role is played by how old a person is. According to statistics, intestinal diseases affect people aged 50 years and older.
2. Intestinal diseases. People suffering from inflammatory bowel pathologies are most affected by this disease.
3. Wrong way of life. If you visit a medical forum, then these factors include malnutrition, including a large percentage of the use of fats and animal products, smoking, drinking strong drinks.
4. hereditary factor. A person is at increased risk when his relatives had various forms of intestinal diseases.

In men, according to statistics, this is the second oncological disease in terms of prevalence after lung cancer, and in women the third. The risk of getting cancer increases with age. In medicine, there is such a definition of bowel cancer - colorectal cancer.

First signs

With this diagnosis, cancer cells form and grow in the body, their presence causes the appearance of a malignant tumor. It is almost impossible to determine their presence at an early stage, since the first symptoms and signs of bowel cancer in women and men are similar to classic indigestion, digestive problems.

In order not to miss the onset of the disease, you should take a closer look at the following signs:

• a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, not associated with eating;
• poor appetite, sudden weight loss;
• aversion to fried fatty foods;
• signs of dyspepsia;
• diarrhea, followed by prolonged constipation;
• signs;
• blood in stool and stool.

The main problem with cancer is the absence of specific symptoms in the early stages, so patients go to the doctor at stages 3-4, when the options for treating bowel cancer are already limited.

Stages of development

There are five distinct stages in the development of bowel cancer. The complete absence or weak severity of manifestations is observed up to the second (in rare cases, even up to the third) stage. In the third and fourth stages, the patient develops severe pain, forcing him to seek medical help.

Stages of development of bowel cancer:

• Stage 0 is characterized by the presence of a small accumulation of atypical cells, which are characterized by the ability to rapidly divide and can degenerate into cancerous ones. The pathological process is limited to the boundaries of the mucous membranes.
• Stage 1 - a fairly rapid growth of a cancerous tumor begins, it does not go beyond the walls of the intestine until metastases can form. Of the symptoms, there may be disorders of the digestive tract, which the patient does not pay due attention to. At this stage, when examining a patient with a colonoscopy, it is already possible to detect the appearance of neoplasia.
• At stage 2, the tumor grows up to 2-5 cm and begins to penetrate the intestinal wall.
• Stage 3 is characterized by an increase in the activity of cancer cells. The tumor rapidly increases in size, penetrates through the walls of the intestine. Cancer cells invade the lymph nodes. Neighboring organs and tissues are also affected: regional lesions appear in them.
• At stage 4, the tumor reaches its maximum size. gives metastases to distant organs. There is a toxic damage to the body by the waste products of a malignant neoplasm. As a result, the operation of all systems is disrupted.

Life expectancy is determined by the size of the neoplasm and its ability to localize. Tumor cells that have spread in the surface layer of the epithelium allow 85% of patients to survive. With the affected muscle layer, the situation is aggravated - the survival rate does not exceed 67%.

In accordance with the International classification, there are:

• adenocarcinoma;
• Colloidal cancer;
• cricoid-cell;
• Squamous;
• Undifferentiated and unclassified forms.

Most often (about 80% of cases), adenocarcinoma is diagnosed - glandular cancer originating from the epithelium of the intestinal mucosa. Such tumors are highly-moderately and poorly differentiated, which determines the prognosis. Signet-shaped cell carcinoma often affects young people, and squamous cell carcinoma is more often localized in the rectum.

Colon Cancer Symptoms: Manifestation in Adults

Signs of bowel cancer appear in the later stages of the disease. Symptoms of oncology of the intestine in the early stages are sluggish, almost not noticeable. But they should also be taken into account in order to avoid irreversible consequences.

Bowel cancer symptoms depending on the type:

1. With stenotic oncology, constipation and colic appear due to the narrowed lumen. At the same time, in the first stage of cancer, a person suffers from flatulence with relief after defecation.
2. Signs of enterocolitis-type bowel cancer are constantly changing stools from diarrhea to constipation and vice versa.
3. The dyspeptic appearance is characterized by constant belching with heartburn and the appearance of bitterness in the mouth.
4. Pseudo-inflammatory oncology brings with it nausea with vomiting, chills, fever and unbearable pain.
5. Symptoms of cystic bowel cancer are the appearance of blood during urination with pain.

Other symptoms:

• quite often, with the development of a malignant tumor in the intestines, patients experience fullness, even after a successful trip to the toilet;
• some have a sharp inexplicable weight loss, despite the fact that the usual regimen and diet are observed;
• the presence of blood impurities in the feces may also indicate the development of an oncological process in the intestine;
• the first signs of intestinal oncology are usually mild, so they can be mistaken for general malaise (drowsiness, general weakness, fatigue) or digestive disorders. However, with the aggravation of the process, they become more pronounced and supplemented.

Signs of bowel cancer are determined by the concentration of the tumor and the stage of its development. If the tumor has affected the right part of the organ, then the following symptoms occur:

• diarrhea;
• the presence of blood in the stool;
• pain in the abdomen;
• anemia.

Development of a tumor in the left side of the intestine:

• The patient complains of constant constipation, difficulty in removing feces, and bloating.
• There is frequent alternation of liquid stools with constipation, through narrowing and relaxation of the lumen of the colon, this is often a symptom of cancer.
• Excretion of feces occurs with great difficulty, often with blood and mucus, accompanied by painful sensations.

Bowel cancer symptoms in women and men

Signs of bowel cancer in men and women with this course are practically the same. Later, if the tumor progresses and spreads to neighboring organs, then in men the prostate is affected first, and in women the vagina, the rectal space and anal canal are also affected.

At the same time, the patient begins to worry severe pain in the anus, coccyx, sacrum, lumbar region, men feel difficulty during urination.

If it is oncology, the clinical outcome is not always favorable. A malignant neoplasm appears in women after 35 years of age; in the primary form, it does not spread metastases to the uterus. First, the patient experiences general weakness throughout the body and the classic signs of dyspepsia, then specific signs of an intestinal tumor appear. This:

• recurrent pain during bowel movements;
• failure of the menstrual cycle;
• blood in feces;
• disturbed urination;
• sudden weight loss, lack of appetite;
• blood impurities in the daily portion of urine;
• aversion to fried, fatty foods.

Late stages of bowel cancer are characterized by the addition of general symptoms to local ones. Symptoms of bowel cancer:

• The skin becomes dry and pale.
• Frequent dizziness and headaches.
• Weakness and fatigue of the patient.
• Unreasonable weight loss and emaciation.
• Damage to other systems and organs of the body.
• A small presence of blood in the body, a low level of protein in it.

The appearance of metastases

Intestinal cancer most often metastasizes to the liver, there are frequent cases of damage to the lymph nodes of the retroperitoneal space, the peritoneum itself, abdominal organs, ovaries, lungs, adrenal glands, pancreas, pelvic organs and bladder.

The following circumstances become unfavorable factors for the forecast:

• a tumor that grows into fatty tissue;
• cancer cells with a low degree of differentiation;
• colon with perforation;
• the transition of primary cancer to the organs and tissues "in the neighborhood" and to large veins, closing their lumen;
• cancer-embryonic antigen of high concentration in plasma before surgery. It has been associated with an increased risk of recurrence regardless of the stage of the cancer.

Patients with metastases are divided into two groups:

• patients with single metastases;
• patients with multiple metastases (more than 3).

Diagnostics

Diagnostic search begins with a detailed clarification of the nature of complaints, clarifying the presence of patients with colonorectal cancer among close relatives. Particular attention is paid to patients with previous inflammatory bowel disease, polyps.

At the first stages, even a mild feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, which is complemented by changes in the blood test and the patient's age over 50 years, can indicate the presence of bowel cancer.

Features of the blood test:

• decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cell count;
• level up ;
• high ESR;
• the presence of blood impurities (hidden blood) in the feces;
• increased blood clotting;
• tumor markers.

The diagnosis is made after the following studies:

• X-ray diagnostics of the intestine (irrigoscopy). It is an x-ray examination of the intestinal walls after the introduction of a radiopaque substance through an enema, for which a barium suspension is used.
• Retromanoscopy. The study of the intestinal area from the anus to a depth of 30 cm is carried out with a special device that allows the doctor to see the intestinal wall.
• Colonoscopy. Examination of the intestine from the anus to a depth of 100 cm.
• Laboratory examination of feces for occult blood.
• CT, MRI can determine the location of the tumor, as well as the presence or absence of metastases.

How are people with bowel cancer treated?

To get rid of cancer, different methods are used: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Treatment of rectal cancer, like any other malignant tumor, is a very difficult and lengthy process. The best results are obtained by surgery, during which the tumor and surrounding tissues are removed.

With the timely diagnosis of the disease, surgical intervention is performed with a retromanoscope, the introduction of which is carried out into the rectum through the anus. At the last stage of the course of the disease, an extensive surgical entry is used. Sometimes with oncology of the intestine, patients partially cut off this organ.

After surgery, the two parts of the intestine are sewn together. If it is impossible to connect them, one of the parts of the intestine is brought to the peritoneum.

Treatment also includes:

• Radiation therapy, when X-rays are used to prevent tumor growth and cause cancer cells to die.
• Radiotherapy - as a preparatory stage for surgical treatment. It is also shown in the postoperative period.
• Chemotherapy - involves the introduction of cytotoxic drugs that have a detrimental effect on tumors. Unfortunately, these drugs have a negative effect on healthy cells of the body, so chemotherapy has a lot of unpleasant side effects: hair loss, uncontrollable nausea and vomiting.

Chemotherapy is used systemically, before or after surgery. In some cases, local administration into the blood vessels that feed the metastases is indicated. The main drug used for chemotherapy is 5-fluorouracil. In addition to it, other cytostatics are used - capecitabine, oxaliplastin, irinotecan and others. To enhance their action, immunocorrectors are prescribed (interferogens, stimulants of humoral and cellular immunity).

Forecast

The prognosis for bowel cancer depends on the stage at which the disease was discovered. So, with the initial forms of the tumor, patients live a long time, and the five-year survival rate reaches 90%, while in the presence of metastases it leaves no more than 50%. The most unfavorable prognosis is in advanced cases, as well as with significant damage to the rectum, especially in the distal section.

How many people live at different stages of bowel cancer?

1. The initial stage (difficult to diagnose) is a guarantee that a positive result will reach 90-95% survival, if, of course, the surgical intervention was successful.
2. At the second stage the progression of the neoplasm and its spread to neighboring organs leaves a chance of survival for 75% of patients. That is, those patients who have successfully undergone surgery and radiation therapy.
3. At the third stage, the size of the tumor is critical, in addition, it grows into regional lymph nodes. In this case, 50% of patients manage to survive.
4. The fourth stage practically does not guarantee a successful outcome. Only 5% manage to survive a malignant neoplasm that has grown into individual organs and bone tissues and has formed extensive metastases.

Prevention

Oncological diseases are cunning and unpredictable. It is worth thinking about prevention for people who have a hereditary predisposition to cancer, or have diseases that can transform into cancer, as well as all people over the age of 40.

• Increased motor activity;
• Enrichment of the diet with foods containing fiber;
• Refusal of bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol).

Intestinal cancer is a dangerous disease that can be prevented by observing preventive measures and conducting a complete diagnosis of the body 1-2 times a year. If you or your loved ones have the symptoms described in this article, be sure to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist and get diagnosed.

How fast does bowel cancer develop? A qualified oncologist will tell you about this. manifested by tumors located in the anus, colon, blind or rectum. They may differ in shape and histological composition.

Attention! In this case, it is not correct, not ethical, and sometimes even criminal to give specific figures. Depending on many, many factors, the timing of the development of the disease can vary significantly, from two months to 10-15 years.

Comment Dronyan S.S.

There are several reasons for the occurrence of this disease, and doctors cannot single out one - the main one. These factors include:

• diet violation;
• the influence of the external environment;
• the presence of a genetic predisposition;
• diseases of the colon, which gradually become chronic.

Regarding the diet, it is worth noting that doctors carefully take it into account when establishing a particular type of cancer. This is necessary to understand how quickly the disease developed. For example, if a person ate a lot of meat and little plant food, then colorectal cancer may occur. This is due to the fact that in the intestine there is a significant accumulation of fatty acids, which turn into carcinogenic agents. Therefore, it is worth eating foods rich in fiber, which helps to dilute fats and reduce the level of their transfer through the intestines.

Cancer can quickly arise and develop in those who constantly suffer from inflammation of the colon, accompanied by colitis. Also, the risk group includes those who have been ill for a long time, and the clinical picture of the course of the disease was complex.

Reasons for the rapid development of bowel cancer

Genetic predisposition plays some role in the rapid development of bowel cancer.. This is especially true for people who are in the first degree of kinship with cancer patients. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to the following factors that can cause cancer:

• the colon was affected by malignant tumors;
• diffuse polyposis;
• cider Turco;
• Gardner syndrome.

Most often, adenocarcinoma develops in the intestine, which is caused by untimely removal of intestinal polyps or the intestine itself. Disease development. The time for the development of bowel cancer is determined by the nature of the growth of tumors, their spread through the intestine. Thus, a cancerous tumor is characterized by autonomy and irregular increase in size. Other factors should include:

• absence or reduction of tissue differentiation;
• loss of organotypic structure;
• loss of histotypical structure.

Attention should also be paid to the fact that the spread of bowel cancer is much slower than. This should be reported to the patient by an oncologist as soon as malignant tumors have been detected. You need to know this in order to have information about how quickly it is developing. As a result, the moral state of the patient will be more stable, which is necessary for therapy.

Developed cancer can stay in the intestine for a long time and at the same time not spread to the very depths of the intestine. The disease penetrates into it only 2 or 3 centimeters from the edge of the organ. Another feature is that the slow process of tumor growth will cause severe inflammation of a local nature, as a result of which organs and tissues can be severely damaged. Cancer processes can grow there, causing the formation of so-called locally advanced tumors. They do not have distant metastases. Metastasis can affect the lymph nodes, liver, lungs.

Colon cancer is characterized by the fact that it is often accompanied by the presence of several centers of tumor growth.. They occur simultaneously, and sometimes sequentially - one after another. With one or another variant of inflammation, tumors occur in the colon and other organs where they have already penetrated. Symptoms and diagnosis. Bowel cancer is manifested by characteristic signs:

• First, bleeding inside the intestine;
• Secondly, the chair is broken;
• Thirdly, there is pain in the abdomen;
• Fourth, the presence of tenesmus.

Bleeding can be hidden and obvious, i.e. appear as an admixture to the stool or leak inside the intestine. Excretion occurs through the anus or through the rectum. Dark blood indicates that the cancer process is developing on the left side of the intestine. Occult bleeding causes anemia, weakness in the patient and pallor of the skin. This is also evidence that the cancer appears on the right side of the colon.

Not only can stools be difficult, but they can also cause problems with bowel movements. It manifests itself in the later stages of the disease and most often occurs on the left side of the colon or rectum.

Bowel cancer often causes acute obstruction, sometimes problems with defecation or false urge to defecate. But such symptoms may not appear, and the only signs of the development of the disease are weakness, lack of appetite, and sudden weight loss. They begin to disturb patients at the very beginning of the appearance of tumors, and then - in the later stages - ascites and hepatomegaly may appear.

How to diagnose the stage of development of the disease

Only a specialist oncologist can diagnose cancer and its stage of development, who prescribes clinical tests and examines the patient's condition. First of all, an anamnesis is taken, complaints are recorded, the condition of the rectum is studied. Particular attention should be paid to factors that cause anxiety in the intestinal area.

Next, patients take a complete blood count and a stool test to detect occult blood. And only then is a colonoscopy or irrigoscopy done. In difficult cases, ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvic organs is prescribed, and a biopsy of tumors is also done.

Symptoms are characterized by the following features:

• monotonous nature of signs;
• the presence of one or more symptoms;
• tumors are located in different parts of the intestine, so a digital examination of the rectum is performed.

Ultrasound helps to detect tumors and metastases that can reach the liver, causing perifocal inflammation. Usually 4 different types of research are used: endoscopic, intraoperative, percutaneous, endorectal.

In very difficult situations, tomography or nuclear magnetic resonance is prescribed. Diagnosis should be carried out in order to avoid complications, which are problems with intestinal patency, the presence of bleeding (including hidden ones), inflammation, anemia. Such problems accompanying cancer must be urgently treated, up to surgery.