Colon Cancer in New Orleans, LA

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The colon is the final part of the digestive tract where the body removes fluid and salt from solid waste. Colon cancer occurs when malignant masses develop in the colon. This cancer begins as harmless growths known as polyps. Polyps are little bunches of cells that can ultimately become colon tumors.

Colon cancer is more common in older adults and is the second-leading common cancer detected in both women and men combined.

It is imperative to get a colonoscopy starting at age 45 and then as recommended by your GI provider. To make an appointment for a colorectal cancer screening in New Orleans, LA, get in touch with a Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates location near you.

With the right handling and attention, it is our desire that, if you have the initial signs of colon cancer, rapid therapy could assist you with a more optimistic outcome. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms persistently, please request a consultation with a New Orleans, LA gastroenterologist without delay:

  • Rectal bleeding
  • Constant urges to defecate
  • A sensation that your bowel doesn’t empty fully
  • Pain throughout bowel movements
  • Long-term intestinal discomfort, like cramps, flatulence, or pain
  • A sudden change in bowel movements, including obstruction, diarrhea, or an alteration in the texture of your feces
  • Any of these joined by weakness and fatigue

Some of the factors that might place a patient at increased risk for colon and rectal cancer are:

  • Age: Colon cancer is usually discovered in individuals who are older than 50; however, the rates of colon cancer in young patients have been on the incline.
  • Race: People of the African-American race have an increased danger of colon cancer compared to other races.
  • Family history: If you or a relative has had colorectal cancer or colon growths, you have an increased risk of colon and rectal cancer.
  • Inflammatory intestinal conditions: Chronic diseases, such as Crohn's disease and colitis, can increase your risk of colorectal cancer.
  • “Standard Western Diet”: Colorectal cancer has been associated with a low fiber, enhanced fat, and a high-calorie diet.

Cancer survival rates are broken into categories and are dependent on the degree it has advanced upon discovery. Limited colon cancer is cancer that is only in the colon. Regional colon cancer is when the condition moves to the adjacent cells and organs, and distant is when the disease has spread to distant parts of the body.

  • 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 diagnosed early and strictly appears in minimal malignant tumors, then the polyps can be excised resulting in remarkably elevated survival rates.

We advise having a colonoscopy when you turn 45 years old to detect cancer quickly. If colon cancer runs in your family, then we advise receiving a screening for colon cancer at Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates as soon as you can.

Treatment for colon cancer in New Orleans, LA patients can change based on the stage of the disease. Every situation is different, but the most important thing you can do to fight colon cancer is to prevent it.

Avoidance

Colorectal cancer is a unique type of cancer because it is preventable. Colorectal cancer first appears in the form of polyps. These polyps can be removed, which decreases your chance of passing away from cancer by 90%. Your personal risks and steps for avoidance can be discussed at a colon cancer screening with your GI provider.

Stage 0 Colon Cancer Treatment

Stage 0 colorectal cancer is when colorectal cancer has not dispersed further than the interior lining of the colon. If the growth is tiny enough, it can be simply withdrawn using a colonoscope while doing a colonoscopy.

Stage I Colon Cancer Treatment

If the growth is eliminated while undergoing a colonoscopy with no cancerous tissues at the rims, no further care may be necessary. If the extracted tumor does have cancerous tissues at the extremities, additional extraction may be essential to clear the extra cancerous tissue. For cancers not in a polyp, a partial colectomy could be required to withdraw the piece of the colon and neighboring lymph nodes that are cancerous.

Stage II Colon Cancer Treatment

Usually, in stage 2, surgery is performed to extract the portion of the colon or adjacent lymph nodes containing cancer. From time to time, your provider will suggest adjuvant chemotherapy (chemo following surgery) as well.

Stage III Colon Cancer Treatment

A partial colectomy succeeded by adjuvant chemotherapy is the standard treatment for this type of colon cancer.

Stage IV Colon Cancer Treatment

This phase of the disease commonly means that the disease has dispersed to different tissues or body parts. Surgery may be needed to remove parts of cancer identified in the colon and additional organs, as well as chemotherapy. Chemotherapy at this phase is normally conducted before and after surgery.

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What are the causes behind colon cancer?

Though the specific cause behind colon and rectal cancer is not well understood, it develops when cells that have become mutated in the walls of the rectum or colon proliferate beyond control, producing a tumor or growth. However, certain factors could increase the risk of developing colon or rectal cancer. These include lifestyle habits, like using tobacco or drinking alcohol, lack of physical activity, and poor nutrition, in addition to a hereditary or genetic predisposition.

How is colon cancer diagnosed?

Colon and rectal cancer is usually detected and diagnosed during a colon cancer test. A colonoscopy exam is the most common, precise, and complete screening option for detecting colorectal cancer. Further exams, like virtual colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, fecal tests, and double-contrast barium enema, may also be used during a screening for colorectal cancer. Your Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates gastroenterologist will advise you on the appropriate approach to screening and diagnosis to meet your individual needs.

How rapidly does colon cancer develop?

Colon cancer grows slowly in most cases. The disease typically begins as a noncancerous growth in the large bowel or rectal area that turns malignant over the course of time. Having symptoms with polyps is rare; therefore, routine colon cancer exams are imperative to finding this disease as soon as possible.

Is colon cancer preventable?

Colorectal cancer can often be prevented with regular colorectal cancer exams. Since most cases of colorectal cancers develop as precancerous growths (polyps), getting screened as advised by your healthcare provider can help lower your chances of developing this disease. Our GI specialists in New Orleans, LA can offer further details on how to minimize your colorectal cancer risk when you visit for a consultation.

If you or a family member suspects or has been diagnosed with colon cancer, you can feel secure knowing that proficient support is not far. Metropolitan Gastroenterology Associates is a physician-led network of gastroenterologists and our board-certified specialists strive to place the reassurance and protection of our patients before everything else. To discover additional information about colon cancer and how it can be detected and prevented or to get treatment for colon cancer in New Orleans, LA, contact us today.

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