What Are the Types of Colon Cancer?

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Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among the population of the United States. In particular, it involves the abnormal cancerous growth of tissues within the lining of the colon walls. If not treated from early stages, it may result in death. Moreover, certain factors might increase a person’s risk in contracting this illness, notably obesity, family genes, and an inadequate diet and lifestyle. It is always important to know the types of colon cancers which exist as there are different types of treatment for each type.

Essentially, they can be classified in two large groups, acquired and hereditary colon cancers. Many of these are primarily caused by colonic polyps. Hereditary types include adenomatous polyposis, Gardener’s syndrome, non-polyposis colon cancer, Peutz-Jegher’s syndrome and Juvenile Polyposis. These hereditary diseases can occur in young people as well, including children and teenagers. The acquired cancers on the other hand usually affect persons over the age of 50.

Here’s a brief discussion on the common types of colon cancers:

Adenocarcinomas: these the most common type of colon cancer that starts off in the glands. There are two subtypes, a mucinous and signet ring cell subtype in which the former accounts for 10-15% of the this cancer while the latter only accounts for 0.1%.

Lymphomas: these are more likely to start in the rectum and occur in rare instances. There are also those that start elsewhere in the body other than the colon and rectum but spread to these areas causing much discomfort in bowel movements. Generally speaking, it accounts for only 0.5% of colorectal cancers.

Leinomyosacrcomas: this type of the cancerous illness accounts for less than 2% of colon ailments but they have a high chance of spreading to other areas of the body, causing cancerous growths there as well making the disease all the more painful.

Neuroendocrine Tumours: occurring in aggressive and indolent cases, the aggressive neuroendocrine tumors have both small and large cells while those indolent are considered characinoid tumors.

Melanomas: usually start with a melanoma initially appearing somewhere else in the body and then spreading to the colon. It is extremely rare as are lymphomas as they account for only 2% of cancers of the colon.

In most cases, a patient will not be able to state for themselves which type of this cancer they have developed. This is why it is important to receive regular check-ups at a doctor to detect the early symptoms of these conditions. Both hereditary and acquired colon cancers are grave diseases as they have a malignant pattern of development. All in all, steps to diminish these occurrences can generally be undertaken such as exercising on a regular basis, eating right and having a healthy lifestyle overall. Once these factors are met, unless your genes prove a great risk of acquiring such a disease, then you would have already been on the road to a healthy life!

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Source by Linda J Bruton