Colon, also called large bowel or the large intestine, measures 1.5 meters in length. Just like any other organ in the body can suffer from various diseases like colitis, colon cancer, constipation, polyposis, pseudomembranous colitis, ulcerative colitis, diverticulosis, diarrhea, and chronic functional abdominal pain.

The colon cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the second most deadly one in the western world. Colorectal cancer, is a disease in which malignant cells form in the colon or rectum.

Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is carried out to detect the presence of colon cancer by inserting a camera or a flexible fiber-optic camera into the body through the anus to inspect the colon.

Change in bowel movements such as constipation or diarrhea, lower abdominal chronic pain, and blood mixed in feces are some of the early symptoms of the colon problems. It happens that without giving any symptoms, the tumor is enlarging and perforating the intestine or even is blocking it.

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer, CRC, can occur due to many reasons: hereditary, improper diet, consuming loads of meat, fatty food, and lack of fiber, fruit and vegetables in the diet they all are just a few of the reasons that may cause colon cancer. Even chain smokers and drinkers are prone to colon cancer.

There are various ways of reducing the risk against colon cancer. Some of them include eating fresh fruits and vegetables, consuming calcium rich products, and daily exercise.

The number of the people diagnosed with CRC is consistently increasing and more than 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year. Unfortunately, colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates have only moderately decreased or remained level over the past decade, and according to the American Cancer Society, more than 56,000 will succumb to the disease this year.

Clinical Trials Offer Hope For Colon Cancer, CRC

There is a clinical trial being conducted around the country to investigate a potential new colorectal cancer treatment. This is an important research with the goal of improving treatment options for patients with colorectal cancer.

The study, known as PACCE (Panitumumab Advanced Colorectal Cancer Evaluation), is a Phase 3 clinical trial designed to evaluate the effects of using two targeted cancer therapies in combination with chemotherapy for patients with colorectal cancer that has spread.

Institutions are currently enrolling patients in the PACCE trial across the country, and there may be a trial site in your area.

The treatments used in the study are chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells; a medication called Bevacizumab, approved to stop the growth of blood vessels to the tumor; and Panitumumab, an experimental treatment that is being investigated to see if it will help stop the tumor from growing.

Patients who participate in the trial are treated either with chemotherapy and Bevacizumab, or with Panitumumab in addition to chemotherapy and Bevacizumab.

The campaign seeks to address information gaps and to provide physicians and patients with information on a variety of clinical trials that are currently enrolling patients.