Adenocarcinoma of the colon is a common type of colorectal cancer. According to the College of American Pathologists, there are approximately 150,000 cases of colon adenocarcinoma reported yearly in the United States. It is a slow-growing type of cancer that often does not present symptoms in its early stages. When detected in its early stages and patients get treatments for adenocarcinoma of the colon, the prognosis and survival rate can be good.
The Facts
The colon and rectum are part of the gastrointestinal system. Several layers of tissues comprise the wall of the colon and rectum. Adenocarcinoma of the colon is a type of cancer that starts in the cells in the inner tissue layers of the colon. It can spread from these layers into the colon wall and subsequently into the lymphatic system and other body organs. Before cancer develops; however, tissue growths or polyps form on the lining of the colon wall. These may become cancerous and are called adenomatous polyps. There are factors that can increase a person's risk of developing colon cancer.
Causes/Symptoms
People with family histories of colon or rectal polyps are at a higher risk of developing colon adenocarcinoma. Some other factors that may play a role in the development of this cancer are inflammatory bowel disease, not getting routine colon cancer-screening test especially after the age of 50 and an unhealthy diet (see Resources). The progression of adenocarcinoma of the colon is slow and may take years before there are some symptoms. These symptoms can include intestinal obstruction, fatigue, weight loss, anemia and rectal bleeding.
Diagnosis/Stages
Doctors usually find signs of colon problems during routine physical checkups that include a digital rectal exam, blood tests or a colonoscopy. When there are colon or rectal polyps detected, doctors remove these through a colonoscopy. A biopsy will determine the diagnosis. If the diagnosis is cancer, patients may need to undergo further testing such as chest X-rays and CT scans to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph lodes or other body organs. These exams can also establish the stage of the cancer. Treatment can depend on the cancer stage, which are stage 0 to stage IV (see Resources). The prognosis and the five-year survival rate can be good when doctors detect and treat cancer in its early stages.
Treatments
Common treatments for adenocarcinoma of the colon are surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. According to the College of American Pathologists, doctors recommend surgery for 90 percent of patients with colon cancer. A surgeon can perform a procedure called a partial colectomy to remove the malignant section of the colon and some surrounding healthy tissue or lymph nodes for further examination. The two healthy colon sections are then reconnected. Doctors can perform this surgery either through an open surgery or through laparoscopic procedure.
Patients may need chemotherapy when the cancer spreads beyond the colon or for advance cases of cancer. Chemotherapy is the use of injected drugs to stop the growth of malignant cells. Chemotherapy can be administered before or after surgery.
Radiation therapy is a treatment that utilizes high-energy beams of X-ray to decrease or kill cancer cells when it spreads to other organs. Radiation therapy can be administered as either external or internal radiation (see Resources). Doctors can recommend combinations of these treatments depending on colon cancer stage.
Biological therapy or immunotherapy is also another possible treatment. This treatment involves giving patients substances to restore their immune systems to fight off infections or diseases (see Resources).
Consideration
Since adenocarcinoma of the colon can go undetected until there are symptoms, it is important to get routine medical exams that include digital rectal exams and fecal occult blood test. The American Cancer Society reports that more than 95 percent of colorectal cancers are of the type called adenocarcinoma. Early detection and treatment of adenocarcinoma can save a patient's life. The American Cancer Society also reminds people that colon growths or polyps can become cancerous and offers screening guidelines (see Resources). Early detection and treatment of adenocarcinoma of the colon can save lives.
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