₦airaland Forum

As we mourn for Chadwick, I felt it worthwhile to share with us basic things we should know about colon and rectal cancer.

May God grant him Mercy, and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss. Amen.

Colon cancer is among the commonest cancers in the world. Other common cancers are breast cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer.

The colon or the large intestine is part of the digestive system.

As the name sounds, the importance of the digestive system is to digest foods and absorb them.


What are the causes Of colont/rectal cancer

There are no known causes of colorectal cancer. By there are a few risk factors.

They include :

-obesity

-genetics or family history

-Alcohol

– Smoking

-Diabetes Mellitus

-Consumption of processed meat and red meat

Symptoms of Colonrectal cancer
Asymptomatic, that’s no symptom
Bleeding through the anus
Constipation
Swelling in your abdomen
Abdominal pain
Internal bleeding causing anaemia
Weight loss



Treatment for colon rectal cancer
There are various treatment modalities for colon cancer. Generally, cancers have varying treatment modalities. Everything depends on the time of presentation and stage of the cancer.

I will just be talking about the surgery  – Hemicolectomy – which was what was done for this patient

A78 year old man who presented with pain in the abdomen,  constipation, weakness, and bleeding from the anus. He was examined and some investigations was done. It was found to be a cancer in the left colon. He was booked for surgery – left Hemicolectomy – that’s the removal of the left half of the colon – where the tumour was.

The loss of weight was due to the cancer,  it drains the body of so many energy.

The weakness was due to the long term loss of blood both from the internal and external bleeding. This caused anaemia which presented with that weakness.

The constipation was because the lumen of the colon was blocked. Faeces was not passing as it should.

Before the surgery he was given about two bags of blood. To bring his blood level up because of the losses he has incured and the ones he will still loose during the surgery. 

The left colon was removed. And the remaining right colon was joined to together. But there was spread to the liver.  The cancer has metastasized to the liver.


What to Expect – colon cancer surgery
The basic thing is the time and stage of the cancer.

For this man’s case there is little than can be done.

Assuming it has not spread, the surgery would have made alot of change. The colon and the cancer would have been removed and that would have made alot of change.

The operation can last up to 3-4 hours depending on the expertise of the surgeon.


Complications Of colon and rectal cancer
1. Bleeding – The man was transfused even after the surgery because of the losses he had. So bleeding can be much. The doctor will have blood ready for transfusion.

2. Infection : The place the operation is done is your colon, the large intestine. And that’s the home of a whole lot of microorganisms. So infection is definitely gonna be there if adequate care is not taken.

Remember the colon will be cut open into two, so some faeces will definitely drop into the abdomen.

Your doctor will guard against this using a strong broad spectrum antibiotics to prevent infections.

3. Pain: The immediate post operative period could be painful to you. So adequate analgesia would be of help.

4. Blockage of the lumen : Remember what was done was to cut out some part of your intestine and join the two remaining ends. So in the process of stitching the two ends back,the lumen could be captured and get blocked. The solution here is all on the expertise of the surgeon.

Prevention of Colon and rectal cancer
1. Take alcohol easy

2. Stop smoking

3. Exercise

4. Ask good questions about your family history of colon and rectal cancer

https://www.nairaland.com/6084347/chadwick-boseman-dies-43-after

https://odoctor.ng/colon-cancer-surgery-what-to-expect/


Cc. Lalasticlala, Seun, mynd44

Yes o
In memory of Black Panther.

Please let's educate the populace on colon cancer

flyingpig:
Yes o
In memory of Black Panther.

Please let's educate the populace on colon cancer

Yes bro. Very important.
Cancer as a thing is something you should not wish for your enemy. It is a monster.

Rip boseman

Educative

Slawomir shey u dey hear

Nice one op
Those weed guys...afa...make una cum read ooo

Make pesin just dey thank God everyday...

slawomir d real niggarr, I hope say u dey hear

We miss you man!

marshalcarter:
Nice one op

Those weed guys...afa...make una cum read ooo

Thank you.