What is Colon Cancer

Back to Home

Colorectal cancer is the cancer of the large intestine (colon). Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer and the fourth most frequent cause of cancer deaths worldwide. According to the statistic, the annual incidence of colorectal cancer in the United States is approximately 148,300 which included 72,600 affected make and 75,700 affected females, with 56,600 deaths which included 27,800 males and 28,800 females. (Henry T. Lynch et al., 2003).

Colorectal cancer is carcinomas which is the cancer of epithelial cells. Normally the cancerous cell can be found on the surface of the body, produce hormones and make up glands (Mark H. Beer et al., 2003). In the early development of colorectal cancer, adenomatous polyps which are noncancerous clumps of cells will be formed. The clumps of cells have lost its normal control mechanism and unregulated growth. After some time, polyps become colon cancers.

Cancerous cell develop from healthy normal cells through a process called transformation. In the first step of development called initiation, the cell’s genetic material is changed and cause mutation. The mutant genes will produce unwanted protein, and then make the cells become cancerous cells.

In second stage of development of cancer cells, it is called promotion. The agents that cause promotion are called promoters. Promoters can be some drugs, external environment substances or even some behaviors’ of the patients. For example, smokers will have higher chances to get colorectal cancer. Promotion has no effect on non-initiated cells. Colorectal cancer can grow directly into surrounding tissues on colon and large intestine. It might spread to other tissues or organs. (Mark H. Beer et al., 2003).