Colon Cancer in Lubbock, TX
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Find a ProviderWhat is colon cancer?
The colon is the final part of your gastrointestinal (GI) system where your body extracts liquid and salt from stool. Colon and rectal cancer appears when cancerous masses evolve in the colon. The cancer begins as benign masses called polyps. Polyps are little clumps of cells that can ultimately become colon tumors.
Colorectal cancer is increasingly common in older adults and is the second-leading general cancer discovered in both females and males jointly.
It is important to get a colonoscopy early in your life and then as recommended by a gastroenterologist, like the ones at Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates. To book a colorectal cancer screening, contact one of our locations in the Lubbock, TX area.
What are the symptoms of colon cancer?
Should you suffer from the initial signs of colon cancer, timely intervention might benefit you with a more positive result. If you experience any of the following indicators persistently, please request an appointment with one of our GI doctors in Lubbock, TX today:
- Lasting abdominal distress, such as cramps, flatulance, or pain
- A sudden alteration in bowel habits, including constipation, diarrhea, or stool consistency
- Blood in stool
- Discomfort throughout bowel movements
- A sensation that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Persistent urges to defecate
- Any of these coupled with weakness and exhaustion
A few of the components that might put an individual at increased risk for colorectal cancer are:
- Age: Colorectal cancer is usually identified in persons who are older than 50; despite that, the rates of colorectal cancer in young individuals have been growing.
- Race: Individuals of African-American descent have a greater risk of colon cancer comparable to other races.
- Family history: If you or a relative has had colon cancer or colon tumors, you have an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer.
- Inflammatory intestinal conditions: Persistent diseases, such as Crohn's disease and colitis, can raise your risk of colorectal cancer.
- Maintaining a “Typical Western Diet”: Colorectal cancer has been linked with a decreased fiber, high fat, and high-calorie diet.
Survival rates for colorectal cancer
Cancer survival rates are separated into types and largely depend on the degree it has advanced upon identification. Limited colorectal cancer is cancer that is simply in the colon. Regional colon cancer is when the condition spreads to the surrounding tissues and organs, and distant colon cancer is when the disease has dispersed to distant parts of the body. The survival rates for these forms of cancer are generally:
- Localized colon cancer: 90% 5-year survival rate
- Regional colon cancer: 71% 5-year survival rate
- Distant colon cancer: 14% 5-year survival rate
If the condition is discovered ahead of time and simply appears in a few malignant polyps, then the tumors can be removed, often resulting in very high survival rates.
We suggest getting a colonoscopy at 45 years old in order to diagnose cancer early. If colon cancer is in your family, then we may advise having a screening for colorectal cancer even earlier. Our team at Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates will do all we can to ensure you get the proper care you need.
How is colon cancer treated?
Therapy for colorectal cancer in Lubbock, TX patients can vary based on the spread of the cancer. Each case is individually unique, but the most widely accepted goal for colorectal cancer is to avoid it completely.
Prevention
Colon cancer is an exceptional type of cancer because it is avoidable. Colon cancer first arises in the form of tumors. These polyps can be removed, which decreases the chance of dying of cancer by 90%. Your individual cancer risk and prevention steps can be discussed at a colon cancer exam with your gastroenterologist.
Stage 0 Colon Cancer Treatment
Stage 0 colorectal cancer is when the colon cancer has not dispersed outside the interior lining of the colon. If the polyp is tiny enough, it can be easily removed using a colonoscope during a colonoscopy.
Stage I Colon Cancer Treatment
If the tumor is thoroughly eliminated while doing a colonoscopy with no cancerous tissues at the edges, there may be no additional treatment required. If the eliminated growth does have cancerous tissues at the rims, further extraction could be necessary to clear the remaining cancerous tissue. For cancers not in polyp form, a partial colectomy might be needed to withdraw the portion of the colon and neighboring lymph nodes that are cancerous.
Stage II Colon Cancer Treatment
Normally, in stage two, surgery is conducted to withdraw the portion of the colon or nearby lymph nodes containing cancer. In some cases, your specialist will endorse adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo following surgery) in addition to surgical treatment.
Stage III Colon Cancer Treatment
A partial colectomy followed by adjuvant chemotherapy is the conventional treatment for the third stage of colorectal cancer.
Stage IV Colon Cancer Treatment
Stage five colon cancer commonly means that the cancer has dispersed to other tissues or organs. Surgery could be necessary to remove portions of the cancer established in the colon and other organs, in addition to chemotherapy. Chemotherapy at this phase is normally administered prior to and after surgery.
Hope for Colon Cancer Patients in Lubbock, TX
If you suspect you may have or have been diagnosed with colon cancer, take solace in expert help being close at hand. Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates is a doctor-led system of gastroenterologists where our board-certified physicians put the safety, reassurance, and care of our patients before everything else. To find out more about colorectal cancer and how it might be detected and avoided, or to find treatment for colorectal cancer in Lubbock, TX, reach out to our team today.
Colon Cancer FAQs
What causes colorectal cancer?
While the specific reason behind colon and rectal cancer is undetermined, it arises when cells that have become mutated in the lining of the rectum or large intestine proliferate beyond control, creating a tumor or growth. There are certain things, however, that may increase the chance of colon or rectal cancer. These can involve lifestyle habits, like using tobacco or drinking alcohol, inadequate amounts of physical activity, and poor dietary habits, in addition to a familial or genetic history.
How is colon cancer detected?
Colorectal cancer is typically detected and diagnosed when undergoing a colon cancer screening. A colonoscopy is the most commonly performed, accurate, and thorough screening for identifying colon cancer. Additional testing, such as virtual colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, double-contrast barium enema, and stool tests, may also be performed during a colorectal cancer screening. Your Lubbock Digestive Disease Associates gastroenterologist will recommend the optimal approach to diagnosis and screening to address your health needs.
How quickly does colon cancer grow?
Colorectal cancer tends to be slow-growing in most instances. The disease typically starts as a noncancerous growth in the large bowel or rectal area that turns malignant as time goes on. Noticing symptoms with polyps is uncommon, which means that routine colon cancer exams are vital to catching this disease as soon as possible.
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