Colon cancer is a type of cancer that affects your large intestine (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). Your doctor might call this type of cancer colorectal cancer. The cancer starts when abnormal lumps called polyps grow in the colon or rectum. If you don't have these polyps removed, they can sometimes change into cancer. It takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become a full-blown cancer, according to SurvivorNet experts. If you get the recommended screenings, your doctor will have time to remove any polyps that form, before they can cause problems. While experts don't know exactly what causes colon cancer, they do point to certain risk factors, such as diet, smoking tobacco, and drinking alcohol. Having a family history of colorectal cancer can also increase the risk.
In order to better understand the disease, we've put together a list of colon-cancer-related terms to help you or a loved one should a diagnosis arise.
Read MoreAnastomotic leakage: occurs when a surgical anastomosis fails and contents of a reconnected body channel leak from the surgical connection. It’s one of the most serious complications of bowel resection surgery.
Biomarker: is molecular pattern that can help with cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and management. The biomarkers most used in colon cancer management are genetic mutations within the tumor, such as MMR/MSI, KRAS, BRAF, and HER2 and bloodstream carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).
BRAF Mutation: BRAF gene mutation happens randomly and it's not hereditary. It's found in about 10% of colorectal cancer patients. And knowing about a BRAF gene mutation indicates the need for aggressive treatment, since the mortality risk for patients with a BRAF mutation is more than two times higher than for those with a normal BRAF gene.
Bloodstream carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA): Is a protein that is produced by most tumor cells (but not all) and can be picked up in the bloodstream. High CEA levels do not establish a colon cancer diagnosis. However, higher CEA levels correlate with a worse prognosis and potential metastasis.
Carcinoma in situ: refers to cancer in which abnormal cells have not spread beyond where they first formed. These are cancers are at a very initial stage and are more likely to be cured.
Colectomy: A colectomy is an operation to remove part or all of your colon. You can hear some variations of the word, depending on what part of the colon if removed:
- Hemicolectomy
- Ileocolectomy
- Left colectomy
- Low anterior resection (LAR) see below
- Right colectomy
- Sigmoidectomy
Colonoscopy: is the endoscopic examination of the large bowel (colon) with fiber optic camera on a flexible tube passed through the anus. It can provide a visual diagnosis and grants the opportunity for biopsy or removal of suspected cancer lesions.
Colostomy: A colostomy or ileostomy means that part of your intestines are hooked up through the front of your belly, and you go to the bathroom through a bag that attaches to your skin. When the large intestine (colon) is brought through this opening in the skin it's called a colostomy. Whereas an ileostomy is when a part of the small intestine (ileum) is attached to the skin.
Endoscopic mucosal resection: is procedure to remove precancerous, early-stage cancer or other abnormal tissues (lesions) from the digestive tract. It's minimally invasive procedure that can sometimes be performed for early staged lesion.
Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP): it's a type of hereditary colon cancer. People with FAP have hundreds, or even thousands, of polyps that coat the inside of their colon. Because of this, without treatment, all patients with FAP will go on to develop colon cancer
FOLFIRI: It's a chemotherapy regimen that includes the drugs leucovorin calcium (folinic acid), fluorouracil, and irinotecan hydrochloride.
FOLFOX: Is an abbreviation for a combination chemotherapy regimen that is used to treat colorectal cancer. It includes the drugs leucovorin calcium (folinic acid), fluorouracil, and oxaliplatin.
HER2 Biomarker: the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is a receptor on the surface of almost all the cells in our body, and it is responsible for the communication between the cells to promote their growth, division, repair, and survival. Approximately 3% of colorectal cancers have amplification of the HER2 oncogene. This mutation is not hereditary and will not pass from one generation to another.
Ileostomy: that means that part of your small intestines (ileum) is hooked up through the front of your belly, and you go to the bathroom through a bag that attaches to your skin.
KRAS and NRAS: these are some of the biomarkers (molecular pattern) that can help with cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and management. Approximately 40% of colorectal cancer patients have KRAS mutation in their tumors. This mutation is not hereditary and will not be passed from one generation to another it's completely random.
Laparoscopic surgery: Laparoscopic or "minimally invasive" surgery is a specialized technique for performing surgery. This system allows surgeons to perform the same operations as traditional surgery but with smaller incisions. At the beginning of the procedure, the abdomen is inflated with carbon dioxide gas to provide a working and viewing space for the surgeon. The laparoscope transmits images from the abdominal cavity to high-resolution video monitors in the operating room. Patients often experience less pain, a shorter recovery, and less scarring with laparoscopic surgery.
Low anterior resection (LAR): is performed to treat cancer of the rectum (the lowest part of the large bowel) when the cancer does not involve the anal sphincter muscles. It usually removes the distal part of the sigmoid colon and the rectum.
Lynch Syndrome, or Hereditary (Non-Polyposis) Colon Cancer: Although most colon cancer affects people with no family history or genetic predisposition to it, a small amount of people do suffer from hereditary colon cancer. It's estimated that Lynch syndrome is responsible for 3% of all colorectal cancers.
Metastasis: The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body. The cancer cells can travel through the blood or lymph system, and form a new tumor in other organs or tissues of the body.
Microsatellite Instability (MSI-High): the accumulation of errors in your DNA due to mutation of mismatch repair (MMR) genes is known as High Microsatellite Instability (MSI-H). Determining if you have has this mutation could affect what treatment you are ultimately given.
Non-Invasive: The tumors can be found in the top layer of cells and are confined to the colon, these are cancers are at a very initial stage and are more likely to be cured.
Polyp: is a small growth in the colon that is not yet cancerous, but has the potential to grow into cancer. For a typical polyp to grow into colon cancer, it takes about ten years.
Polypectomy: is the surgical removal of a polyp. Most of the times it is performed during a colonoscopy.
Rectum: Is the final part of the colon; it is about 6 inches long, and its main function is to store stool until a bowel movement can be made.
Risk Factors: Risk factors, in general, are factors that can make you more likely to develop a specific disease. Risk factors for colorectal cancer include smoking, obesity, age (the risk of colon cancer increases as you age) and personal history (your risk increases if you or anyone in your family has had colorectal cancer).
Sections of the colon: the colon is divided into four different sections. They work together to absorb water and other nutrients from the waste material to prepare for excretion.
- Ascending colon, which absorbs the remaining water and other nutrients from the indigestible food material, solidifying it into stool
- Transverse colon is the longest and most movable part of the colon. It absorbs water and salts from the indigestible material.
- Descending colon, which is a storage area for feces
- Sigmoid colon: is where most of colorectal lesion appear. It's a part of the large intestine that is closest to the rectum and anus and has an S-shape.
Systemic Therapy: Treatments that affect the whole body. The most common form of systemic therapy is chemotherapy, but targeted therapy and immunotherapy are also options.
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