Changing Face of Colorectal (Bowel) Cancer

Colorectal cancer is cancer affecting the large intestine and rectum. There has been a rapid increase in colorectal cancer in India, and this can be attributed to two factors:

• Increasing life expectancy
• Following the western lifestyle

Most cases occur above the age of 50. It is true that if detected early, then colorectal cancer can be cured.

How does colorectal cancer develop?

Contrary to belief, it takes years to develop colorectal cancer. It develops from the inner lining of the bowel (mucosa). Initially, it forms a polyp, which over time turns into cancer. The tumour then starts to invade through different layers of the bowel wall and into the lymph nodes near it. If undetected, it can eventually spread to different parts of the body.

Can polyp be treated?

Yes. Most polyps do not contain cancer cells. Removal of polyp will be sufficient to prevent the cancer from developing.

In some cases, even after removing the polyp, cancer cells may be found. If the cancer cells have spread to the colon, then further surgery is advised if necessary.

What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?

• Increases with age
• Western lifestyle
• Genetic factor (first-degree relative having colorectal cancer)
• Long-term inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s or Ulcerative colitis)

What reduces colorectal cancer?

• Hormonal replacement therapy for women
• Vegetarian diet

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Initially, there might be no symptoms or very few symptoms. The symptoms would increase when the cancer grows in size. The symptoms include:

• Change in bowel habit either to constipation or to passing too many times
• Sensation of incomplete emptying after passing motion
• Blood mixed with the stool
• Passing mucus with stool
• A sensation of fullness after eating little
• Abdominal distension
• Abdominal pain
• Weight loss

Read Full Articel: Colorectal surgeon in Bangalore

Symptoms of Esophageal Cancer & How to Cure?

Esophagus is the pipe which takes food from the mouth to the stomach. It usually affects people above the age of fifty-five years. Since the outcome of oesophageal cancer is not good, anyone suspected of Oesophageal Cancer should be diagnosed at the earliest.

For instance, one with a new onset of dysphagia of less than fifty-five years of age need to be diagnosed.

Like any other cancers, Oesophageal Caner arise from the innermost cell lining of the Oesophagus. In upper, two-third of Oesophagus is usually Squamous cell cancer while in the lower, one-third of Oesophagus is Adenocarcinoma.

There are Numerous Risk Factors for Oesophageal Cancer:

Age: Common in people less than fifty-five years of age

Diet: High fat or processed food are the risk factors

Smoking

Alcohol

Where we live: Common in China

GERD/GORD: Long term infalmmation can lead to cancer in theone-third where initially the cells change nature because of reflux of acid (Barrrett’s Oesophagus). One in hundreds of these conditions can turn to cancer.

Chemical carcinogens: Long term exposure to chemical carcinogens (Specific to India like Tobacco/Gutka/Thambaku)

Symptoms of Oesophageal Cancer Include:

Difficulty in swallowing (Dysphagia): Commonest symptom. Seventy-five percent Oesophagus has be occluded by the Oesophagus for one who experiences Dysphagia. Hence, more than fifty-five percent of people have advanced diseases at the time of diagnosis.

Vomiting: Especially after food

Painful swallowing (Odynophagia)

Weight loss

Vomiting blood (Haemetemesis)

Hoarse voice

Confirming whether one has Oesophageal Cancer is done by Gastroscopy (Type of Endoscopy) and biopsy. Once the cancer is confirmed with biopsy one has to be assessed for stage of the cancer which is usually done by CT scan of chest, abdomen and pelvis. One might also need Endoscopic Ultrasound or PET CT and this would be decided by the treating specialist on individual basis.

One or combination of above tests would tell us whether the cancer is confined to Oesophagus or it has spread to other parts. It would also tell us to which part of the body cancer has spread to. This process is called staging. Treatment of the cancer depends on the stage of the cancer.

Read Full Article: Esophageal Cancer

Best Treatment of Appendicitis

Emergency Surgeon in Bangalore

What are the Symptoms of Appendicitis and Best Treatment of Appendicitis.

The first thing we need to understand is that appendicitis is a surgical emergency. When treated appropriately, complications are very few.

What are the symptoms of appendicitis?

A person suffering from appendicitis might experience dull aching pain around the umbilicus. The pain slowly localizes to lower right side. It is associated with vomiting and anorexia (the patient does not feel hungry). If ignored, it might result in high temperature and high heart rate (tachycardia).

How is appendicitis diagnosed?

It’s based on history and clinical examination. Blood tests will reveal the presence of an infection (increased WBC and CRP). Ultrasound of abdomen might help to confirm the diagnosis, but a negative ultrasound scan does not rule out the possibility of appendicitis. Ultrasound is more important in females as problems in ovaries, fallopian tube and uterus might be present. Ultrasound helps to rule out those possibilities.

What is the treatment for appendicitis?

Treatment of appendicitis is immediate surgery. If not tended to immediately, it might lead to serious complications.

Now a day, surgery is done laparoscopically (key hole) Laparoscopic Surgeon in Bangalore and involves three small cuts, which will be barely visible with time. Most patients go home 24 hours later, being able to do regular activities. There will be no food restrictions. Only.... Read More

Oesophageal Cancer

Epidemiology

Carcinoma of the oesophagus is a common, aggressive tumour. Several histological types are seen, almost all of which are epithelial in origin. The vast majority of these tumours will be either squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or adenocarcinoma (AC).

Over a period of two decades the incidence of SCC has remained relatively stable or declined (particularly associated with smoking and alcohol), whilst there has been a rapid rise in the amount of AC seen, particularly in Caucasian males. This has now overtaken SCC as the most common form of oesophageal tumour in some developed countries.

The majority of cases (80-85%) are diagnosed in less developed countries; most of these are SCC.

Incidence

Carcinoma of the oesophagus is the 8th most common cancer in the world. Annual incidence of 18.0 per 100,000 in men and 8.5 per 100,000 in women. The male:female ratio for the adenocarcinoma subgroup is 52:10.

An average of 42% of cases were diagnosed in people aged 75 years and over, with more than eight out of ten (83%) occurring in those aged 60 and over.

The incidence of oesophageal carcinoma varies considerably with geographical location, with high rates in China and Iran, where it has been directly linked to the preservation of food using nitrosamines. AC is seen more frequently in Caucasian populations, whereas SCC is more frequent in people of African descent.

Hazardous aspects

The use of tobacco and alcohol are strong risk factors for both SCC and AC and have a synergistic effect in this respect for SCC and additive effect for AC. Cigarette smoking is associated with a 10-fold increase in risk for SCC and a 2- to 3-fold increase in risk for AC.

The relative increase in risk caused by smoking remains high for AC, even after 30 years of giving up smoking, but reduces within 10 years for SCC.

Barrett’s oesophagus, which is a precursor of AC.

Chronic inflammation and stasis from any cause increase the risk of oesophageal SCC – eg, strictures due to caustic injury or achalasia.

Tylosis and Paterson-Brown-Kelly syndrome are also associated with an increased risk for SCC. Obesity has been linked with increased risk for AC but reduced risk for SCC. Obesity increases the risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), in turn increasing the risk of Barrett’s oesophagus.

The relationship between obesity and the rise in AC has, however, been questioned. A review of the Connecticut Tumor Registry data between 1940-2007 showed that the increase in AC seen in the 1960s predated the rise in obesity by a decade. The authors of the review propounded that this may have been linked to a decrease in the incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection or environmental factors.

One Japanese study showed a link between oesophageal cancer and tooth loss.

A family history of hiatal hernia is a risk factor for oesophageal adenocarcinoma, and some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to developing types of gastro-oesophageal cancers.

Get More Information: Oesophageal Cancer