- Although colon and rectal cancer are often seen as synonyms, they are not really the same thing.
- One thing they have in common is that they both begin in the large intestine.
- Most cases occur in adults over 65 years of age.
In Mexico, each year about 15,000 new cases of people with colon and/or rectal cancer. As with most tumors, it is a disease that, if detected and treated early, is highly curable and it is estimated that nine out of 10 patients recover.
Now, if the tumor grows in the body and spreads to other parts of the body, most will die within five years. It is estimated that annually 6,500 people die in Mexico from this cause.
According to statistics, the population where this type of cancer is most frequently detected is older adults, between 65 and 75 years of age. In addition, they are usually people with poor eating habits and who do not usually engage in physical activity on a regular basis.
The Colorectal cancer It is the one that originates in the colon or rectum. These cancers may also be called colon cancer or rectal (rectal) cancer depending on where they start. In both cases they are often grouped together because they have many common features.
“Both tumor types share many similarities, including symptoms, certain risk factors, and even some of the basic biology of how these cancers develop. They are also examined in a similar way. For these reasons, the two are often grouped together as colorectal cancers. However, there are differences between these two types of cancer, particularly in how they are treated,” explained Dr. Monica Desai, a medical oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital.
How are colon cancer and rectal cancer alike?
Colorectal cancers share similar symptoms, including changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, and many of the same risk factors.
But the similarities don’t stop there because the two start in the same organ: the large intestine, which is the final portion of the digestive tract. It is also where the colon and rectum meet.
The colon makes up the vast majority of your large intestine, and is where water and other nutrients are absorbed and where stool is formed. The rectum is the last few inches of the large intestine. This is where waste that has passed through the colon is stored until it is excreted during bowel movements.
“Both colon and rectal cancer start in the long muscular tube that forms the large intestine. Specifically, colon cancer starts in the colon and rectal cancer starts in the rectum; however, since the lower segment of the colon continues directly into the rectum, special expertise is needed to distinguish distal colon cancer from rectal cancer.”
Colon and rectal cancer start as polyps
In the case of colon and rectal cancers, the vast majority begin as polyps, growths that develop on the inside wall of the colon or rectum. Both the colon and the rectum are surrounded by a wall made up of many layers. Polyps can develop in the innermost layer of this wall and can be benign or, over time, become cancerous.
Screening for colon and rectal cancer is the same
Possibly one of the most important similarities of these cancers is the screening methods used to find them. From stool tests to imaging procedures, both colon and rectal cancer are identified in the same way.
“In particular, colonoscopy is the most reliable and effective way to detect colorectal cancers, whether in the colon or rectum. A colonoscopy can not only identify polyps growing in any of the segments of the large intestine, but these polyps, if found, can be removed with special tools right then and there.”
He added that, “early detection of colorectal cancer is very important. When these cancers are found early, it can often mean less aggressive treatment, as well as a significantly increased chance of survival. A screening colonoscopy may sound uncomfortable, but it can save your life.”
Main differences
Although the many similarities between colon and rectal cancer have resulted in these cancers being grouped together as colorectal cancers, the two individual cancers are not completely identical.
The main difference between colon and rectal cancer is how they are treated, which can also vary depending on the stage of each type of cancer.
“Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment for these two types of cancer, but the difference lies in whether, and when, chemotherapy and/or radiation may be needed as part of the treatment. Radiation is not part of the treatment of colon cancer. Meanwhile, treatment for rectal cancer, on the other hand, often begins with chemotherapy or radiation (or a combination of both) before surgery. This is called neoadjuvant therapy. After surgery, more chemotherapy may also be needed.”
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