Colon cancer, also called Colorectal cancer (CRC) or large bowel cancer is involved with appearance of cancerous growths on the surface of colon, rectum and appendix.

This medical condition cause about 655,000 deaths worldwide per year and according to the recent statistics it’s the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.

Colon cancer occurs in the large intestine or the large bowel and is a very common kind of cancer, second only to lung cancer in occurrence.

The large intestine has two sections: the upper portion is the colon and the lower portion is the anus or the rectum. The colon absorbs water and nutrients during food digestion. The rectum, on the other hand, serves to expel waste material from the body.

Cancer in the large intestine can spread over both regions, which gives it the name colo-rectal cancer.

Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from polyps in the colon. These mushroom-shaped growths are usually benign, but some may develop into cancer over time.

The diagnosis of localized Colon cancer (CRC), the majority of the time, is done through colonoscopy.

The therapy — the most common way of therapy is usually through surgery, which in many cases is followed by chemotherapy no ensure the treatment success.

The health risk of colon cancer is higher in certain groups and ethnicities, as well as in people living in Western industrialized countries.

The positive side is that colon cancer also has a very high rate of cure and survival.

How Colon cancer (CRC) is developing — Overview

The cancerous growth in the colon usually starts a small tissue growth called adenomatous polyp. This polyp will grow into the colon and if left untreated it can develop into cancer over a period of time. A specific type of polyp, called adenomacan, is the primary seed of colon cancer.

On an average, it takes 5-10 years for a polyp to reach a diameter of about 0.5 inch which in turn is further developing into cancer in 5-10years.

Though 20 years seems enough to detect and treat cancerous development, it is difficult to discern any growth for several years. Thankfully, there are many diagnostic techniques available to successfully detect any cancerous growth or polyps.

Colon cancer (CRC) is a widespread disease, and a lot of research is underway to increase survival rates and aid early diagnosis.

Early Diagnosys of Colon cancer — Colorectal cancer (CRC)

Some common techniques used in diagnosing and treating colon cancer are barium enemas, sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and biopsy.

Apart from this, patients can be screened to discern any blood in the stool or unexplained iron deficiency to find out if there is any polyp or cancer developing.

According to the American Cancer Society, in comparison with guaiac-based tests, commonly known as Fecal Occult Blood Tests (FOBTs), immunochemical tests are more patient-friendly.

John Tamerius, Ph.D., Vice President, Clinical and Regulatory Affairs, Quidel Corporation says — “We are committed to saving lives through early screening and detection of colon cancer. We believe our unique, patient-friendly sample collection device makes this screening process as easy as possible for the patient.”

Despite these recent advancements in CRC screening, less than 50 percent of people age 50 or older have had a recent test. There appears to be a significant opportunity for CRC prevention since it takes an average of 10 years for cancerous cells to develop.

Therefore, if you’re over the age of 50 or have a family history of colon cancer, you should speak with your physician about taking an iFOB test.

The test is simple, takes a minimal amount of time and may help save your life.