About Colon & Lung Cancer

Colon and lung cancer are two of the many types of cancer, a disease that occurs when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and destroy body tissue.

Symptoms

Symptoms of colon cancer include changes in bowel habits, bloody stools and abdominal discomfort. A persistent cough, shortness of breath and coughing up blood are symptoms of lung cancer.

Causes

It isn't always known what causes colon cancer; sometimes the gene mutation is passed in families and other times it occurs spontaneously. Most cases of lung cancer are caused by smoking.

Testing

Doctors can test for both colon and lung cancer with by taking tissue samples, or with imaging tests such as CT scans.

Treatment

Colon and lung cancer may be treated with surgery to remove the cancerous cells, or with chemotherapy or radiation.

Considerations

Get a routine colon cancer screening at age 50; if you have a family history of colon cancer, you should begin screenings at age 45. You can help prevent lung cancer by not smoking or being around secondhand smoke, testing the home for radon and avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Colon Cancer
• Mayo Clinic: Lung Cancer
• Mayo Clinic: Cancer