Symptoms of cancer
Colon cancer, regardless of the department in which the tumor is located, always manifests itself with identical symptoms. The peculiarity of the disease is that it is almost impossible to detect at the initial stage, since symptoms are almost completely absent. This can only be done if the person undergoes an examination. But still, if you listen carefully to your body, minor changes can still be identified. At this stage, they are very often confused with other gastrointestinal pathologies and in most cases they are not paid attention to.
In the initial stages, the disease hardly manifests itself at all.
The very first signs that indicate the development of colon cancer are mainly the following:
- the patient systematically feels discomfort in the abdomen and its area;
- there is stool disorder;
- appetite is significantly reduced;
- there is a constant feeling of fullness in the stomach and increased gas formation;
- unpleasant and sometimes painful signs are felt during bowel movements;
- the patient experiences rapid fatigue and weakness;
- diarrhea may alternate with diarrhea;
- impurities of mucus or blood may be observed in the stool;
- bleeding occurs;
- against the background of bleeding, anemia develops in some cases;
- there is a sharp and unreasonable weight loss;
- hair becomes brittle and dull;
- signs of vitamin deficiency appear;
- Body temperature rises significantly, accompanied by chills and severe fever.
All of the above symptoms appear in the patient depending on the spread of the pathological process and can be observed at different periods of life. As for the spread of metastases, if they affect other organs, the symptoms manifest themselves depending on the affected organ.
Classification
As mentioned above, malignant neoplasms of the colon in women and men can be localized in different areas of this organ, but the frequency of their involvement may differ. For example,
- the sigmoid and descending colon act as the focus of cancer most often - in 36% of cases;
- the cecum and ascending colon are affected in approximately 27% of the total diagnosis of the disease;
- rectal cancer accounts for 19%
- colon cancer – 10%.
According to the nature of their growth, malignant tumors are:
- exophytic - this means that the formations grow into the intestinal lumen;
- endophytic - spread into the thickness of the walls of this organ;
- mixed - have characteristics of the two above forms.
Depending on their histological structure, colon cancer tumors can look like:
- adenocarcinoma – detected in 80% of cases;
- mucoid cancer;
- signet ring cell or mucocellular cancer;
- squamous cell oncology;
- basal cell carcinoma;
- glandular squamous cell carcinoma;
- undifferentiated and unclassified cancer.
Depending on the depth of penetration and spread of metastases, the following stages of cancer are distinguished:
- precancerous condition - with insufficient data to evaluate the tumor;
- zero – the structure of the mucous layer of the large intestine is disrupted;
- initial - in addition to the mucous layer, submucosal tissues are affected;
- moderate severity – the muscle layer is susceptible to infiltration;
- severe – growth of the formation is observed throughout all layers of this organ;
- complicated - in addition to the involvement of all structural parts of the intestinal wall in the pathology, there is a spread of metastases to nearby organs.
Colon cancer stages
The disease is also divided according to the presence or absence of metastases in regional or distant lymph nodes.
Causes of the disease
Everyone has long known that the appearance of any disease must be provoked by some factors. This also applies to ICD 10 colon cancer.
It has been scientifically proven that the most important reasons that contribute to the development of this pathology are:
- unhealthy diet, which is dominated by fatty, flour or meat products;
- insufficient content of plant products;
- systematic constipation;
- hereditary predisposition;
- elderly age;
- colitis;
- polyps.
The main causes of the disease may be colitis, polyps, poor nutrition
Of course, this is not the entire list of pathologies that provoke such a dangerous and insidious disease as cancer in the human body. Therefore, in order to prevent its development, it is necessary to immediately seek medical help at the first symptoms of the disease, and even better, even if symptoms are not observed, systematically undergo preventive examinations.
Common Causes of Functional Disorders
The main reasons can be divided into:
There are several common causes of functional disorders of the intestines in adults:
These reasons are typical for adults. Next, a few words about disorders in children.
Diagnostics
In order to diagnose a pathology such as colon cancer, you first need to contact a medical institution, where, after a thorough examination, the following analyzes and studies will be prescribed:
Of course, if the malignant formation is located relatively close, then it can even be detected during palpation, but even in this case, without all the studies listed above, an accurate diagnosis cannot be established.
Among other things, for the final diagnosis of this pathology, it is mandatory to analyze the tumor for the presence of cancer cells, which is called a biopsy. Currently, this method is considered the most accurate and is carried out in two ways. The first involves examining the entire tumor and is called excisional, while the second differs in that only a small part of the sample is diagnosed and this biopsy is called incisional.
In some cases, an additional study is prescribed, such as an MRI, which helps not only to confirm or refute the presence of cancer, but also to systematically monitor precancerous therapy. As a result of such studies, it is possible to accurately determine whether the tumor is decreasing in size or, on the contrary, continues to increase. If no reduction is observed, the course of treatment is immediately changed.
What diagnostics are needed?
First of all, you need to go for an examination to a therapist, who will determine which specialist you should see. It can be:
To make a diagnosis, the following tests may be prescribed:
Only after a complete examination does the doctor prescribe treatment.
Treatment of the disease
As soon as a patient is diagnosed with colon cancer, ICD code 10, treatment should begin immediately, since even the slightest delay can lead to serious and life-threatening consequences. The main goals of therapy are to increase the patient’s survival time, regardless of the complexity of the disease and the identified stage. If it is possible and likely to prevent further development of the pathology, then a decision is made to eliminate the tumor surgically. This method helps prevent relapses.
When a tumor is recognized as inoperable, then preference is given to palliative therapy, which can, if all recommendations are followed, improve the patient’s quality of life.
In order to determine the possibility of carrying out a particular treatment for a given disease, the stage of the pathology and its localization are first determined. Of course, the most indispensable method is surgery, since only in this way can one radically get rid of the disease and prevent the development of bleeding and intestinal obstruction.
If it is possible to remove the tumor surgically, the patient is operated on
Note! As an adjuvant therapy, a cancer patient is often prescribed a course of chemotherapy. It is in this case that it is possible to provide a person with improved survival.
In addition, in some cases, preference is given to radiation therapy, which can destroy cancer cells immediately after surgery. Also, thanks to radiation therapy, there is a significant reduction in tumor size. That is why such treatment is very often carried out immediately before surgery, as a result of which not only the tumor decreases, but also the symptoms of the pathology are significantly alleviated.
After all of the above methods of combating cancer have been carried out, the patient must be constantly monitored. This is necessary, first of all, in order to promptly detect a relapse and prescribe treatment. And accordingly, prevent various kinds of complications. If the patient is diagnosed with metastases, then additional therapy is prescribed. Which is performed until the side effects completely disappear.
Symptoms of intestinal obstruction
Common manifestations characteristic of all variants of the condition are severe pain, delayed passage of gases and feces, as well as vomiting. Abdominal pain syndrome is characterized by an unbearable, cramping course.
The painful contraction coincides with a wave of peristalsis, the patient may groan, the facial expression changes, the person is forced to take specific poses in order to soften the attack. At the peak of an attack of pain, shock symptoms appear, which include:
- pale skin;
- formation of cold sweat;
- decreased blood pressure;
- increase in heart rate.
The subsidence of pain is often a bad sign: it may indicate necrotic changes in the intestinal tissue. The second day after the onset of symptoms, peritonitis develops.
Vomiting is also a symptom that is most characteristic of ileus. When areas of the small intestine are involved in the process, repeated vomiting is observed, quite profusely.
After vomiting, the patient does not feel better. At the initial stage, vomiting includes food debris, after that - bile, and in the very late period - intestinal contents. Late vomiting is also called fecal vomiting and has a putrid odor. In case of colonic obstruction, a vomiting attack may be repeated 1-2 times.
Prognosis and prevention
In order to prevent the formation of cancerous tumors, it is necessary to carefully monitor your health and systematically undergo preventive examinations. And especially if a person is diagnosed with diseases such as ulcerative colitis, adenomatous polyposis, and even more so with a hereditary predisposition.
If you have the slightest pain in the gastrointestinal tract, you should consult a doctor
If you observe symptoms related to the digestive tract, you must immediately undergo a sigmoidoscopy, as well as other tests prescribed by your doctor.
As for the prognosis for a full recovery, of course, no one will give you this, because cancer is a rather serious and insidious disease, but it is undoubtedly possible to prolong your life if you follow all medical recommendations.
In general, survival after a diagnosis of colon cancer is about five years, and in some cases, patients can feel great for much longer. Of course, everything will depend entirely on the location of the tumor and the stage at which the disease is diagnosed, as well as on the correctly prescribed treatment and the patient’s strict compliance with all recommendations.
As for deaths, they mainly occur in cases where the patient sought medical help too late, as well as in elderly people. Regarding gender. then in this case, as practice shows, the weaker sex has a more favorable prognosis compared to men. Among other things, various types of complications complicate the treatment of the disease, which are very often diagnosed together with the development of cancer.
What treatment methods are there?
In order for treatment to be as effective as possible, if a diagnosis of “functional bowel disorder” is made, it is necessary to perform a set of measures:
- Establish a work and rest schedule.
- Use psychotherapy methods.
- Follow the recommendations of a nutritionist.
- Take medications.
- Apply physiotherapeutic procedures.
Now a little more about each of them.
A few rules for the treatment of intestinal diseases:
Psychotherapy methods help cure functional intestinal disorders that are associated with stressful conditions. Thus, the following types of psychotherapy can be used in treatment:
It should be remembered that when constipation occurs, first of all it is necessary to relax the psyche, and not the intestines.
Nutritionist's recommendations:
Treatment of functional intestinal disorders includes the use of the following drugs:
The attending physician should prescribe medications, taking into account the characteristics of the body and the course of the disease.
Intestinal colic
- Abdominal pain
- Seething in the intestines
- Bloating
- Severe abdominal muscle tension
- Dizziness
- Constipation
- Difficulty defecating
- Diarrhea
- Spread of pain to other areas
- Vomit
- Weakness
- Mucus in stool
- Nausea
- Rumbling in the stomach
Intestinal colic is a sharp pain in the intestines that is paroxysmal and cramping in nature and occurs against the background of impaired tone and peristalsis of the organ. Often, this pathology develops when overstretching of the intestinal loops occurs, which leads to irritation of the nerve endings that are adjacent to its walls. According to ICD-10, the code for intestinal colic is not noted, since it is a consequence of other disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. However, according to ICD-10, this symptom is coded K59.9, which sounds like “unspecified functional bowel disorder.”
Treatment
If intestinal colic appears in adults, they require a thorough examination to determine the cause of this pathology. Treatment is carried out only after finding out what was the main etiological factor for the progression of the pathology. For example, if a person develops colic due to an infectious disease, hospitalization in an infectious diseases hospital is necessary - treatment in this case will consist of eliminating the infection that caused the disease.
If intestinal colic occurs due to intestinal obstruction, urgent surgical treatment is required.
In order for the diagnosis to be made correctly and adequate treatment prescribed, you should not take any medications before going to the doctor, so as not to distort the clinical picture of the pathology. It is important not to self-medicate under any circumstances, and if characteristic symptoms appear, immediately seek qualified medical help. Uncontrolled use of drugs can only worsen the general condition.
The main drugs prescribed to adults to relieve pain in the intestines are: Nosh-pa, Platifilin, Papaverine. At the same time, the treatment of colic itself involves the prescription of drugs such as Notensil, Becarbon - they reduce the rate of contraction of the intestinal muscles. Decoctions made from herbs help relieve pain. For example, a decoction of immortelle or chamomile. When preparing, you should strictly follow the dosage indicated in the recipe.
Diet also plays an important role in the treatment of this pathological condition. The patient needs to eat foods rich in fiber, which help normalize organ motility. In particular, the diet recommends foods such as:
- pumpkin;
- apples and carrots;
- artichokes;
- other fruits and vegetables.
In addition, the diet includes avoiding certain foods that contribute to increased gas formation. For example, it is recommended to exclude legumes and fresh baked goods (including bread). You cannot eat fatty, spicy and fried foods. This treatment of intestinal colic is also suitable for pregnant women - they also need a diet (with minimal gas formation). In general, proper nutrition is a panacea for many digestive disorders, including pathologies such as intestinal colic.
Causes
The causes of this spasmodic pain syndrome in the intestines can be very different. The most common ones include:
- intestinal obstruction;
- helminthiases;
- poisoning with salts of heavy metals;
- the entry into the intestines of a large amount of poorly digested food due to disturbances in the functioning of the stomach, pancreas and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract;
- acute infectious diseases;
- inflammatory processes in this organ.
Often the cause of a pathology such as intestinal colic is excessive participation in sports - significant physical activity can provoke irritation of the intestinal loops. In addition, people who are exposed to constant stress and emotional overload suffer from this disorder.
Separately, it should be said that intestinal colic in newborns is a common functional disorder of the intestines, which is associated with insufficient development of the baby’s gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.
In addition, in medical practice, a special place is given to such a phenomenon as the occurrence of intestinal colic in pregnant women, which is associated with the active work of the uterus during the movement of the fertilized egg through the fallopian tubes, and at a later date - with the active growth of the fetus in the womb.
