The Effects of Colon Cancer on the Body

According to the Mayo Clinic, about 112,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer annually. This disease gets its start from polyps attached to the lining of the colon wall. If left alone, these polyps can turn cancerous. Colon cancer, like other cancers, has the capability to spread throughout the body. The highway systems they use to spread their destructive cells is the bloodstream and lymphatic system. If this disease spreads to other parts of the body, its effects can be devastating.

Anemia

The right side of the colon can produce large cancerous tumors, because there is more space on this side of the colon. Tumors can be there for years before any symptoms occur. As a result , anemia usually is present in people who have cancer on the right side of the colon. The anemic blood loss is an effect of slow bleeding over several years.

Fatigue

Because of anemia, the person becomes tired and weak, with shortness of breath. These symptoms may cause the person to think there is a problem with the heart, because these are also symptoms of heart disease. A thorough exam by a physician will diagnose the situation correctly. It is important to note that along with these symptoms, blood in the stool may be present. Depending upon the amount of blood, it may not be easily recognizable.

Change in Stools

Change in stools is an effect of colon cancer. This usually occurs when the tumor is on the left side of the colon. Because the left side is not as large as the right, there is a more likely chance of blockage when a tumor grows on this side of the colon. Therefore, changes in the stool are more likely to occur when the tumor is on this side. Things to look for are diarrhea, cramps, constipation, pencil-shaped stool, bloating and pain in the abdomen.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

When colon cancer infects the colon, it disrupts the nerves that line the muscle wall of the colon. This causes Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). According to Medicine Net.com, IBS is believed to be due to the abnormal function (dysfunction) of the muscles of the organs of the gastrointestinal tract or the nerves controlling the organs. Colon cancer is certainly abnormal. IBS is marked by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Weight Loss

Unexplained weight loss is another effect of colon cancer. Because of irritable bowel syndrome, nutrients and fats are not able to stay in the bowels long enough to be absorbed into the body. Therefore, weight loss occurs. This is a symptom as well as an effect on the body as a result of colon cancer.

Resources

• Web MD.Com