Complication From Colon Cancer
Complications of colon cancer depend on which treatment option you are seeking. Hardly any complications arise after surgery but chemotherapy and radiation therapy usually produce aftereffects. Complications of colon cancer usually include secondary conditions, symptoms or other disorder caused by colon cancer. It has been said that women who have colon cancer genetically are at a higher risk of developing uterine cancer. Colon cancer causes a list of complications including lymphadenopathy, nausea and vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, ureteric obstruction, constipation, abdominal mass, cerebral metastases, hiccups, rectovaginal fistula, peritonitis, bowel obstruction, cachexia, Sister Mary Joseph’s nodule, diarrhea, tenesumus, abdominal pain, gastrointestinal polyps, ascites, CEA raised, Intussusceptions of intestine, hepatomegaly, intestinal stricture, rectovesical fistula, toxic megacolon, back pain and liver metastases. One of the complications of colon cancer also include anemia which is condition where there is lower than usual amount of red blood cells. In order words there is a decrease in hemoglobin which carries oxygen in the red blood cells. Anemia is usually caused by blood loss, poor diet, diseases, medication reactions, bone marrow problems. Iron deficiency is one of the main reasons why anemia occurs. Anemia can cause fatigue, chest pain and shortness of breath. Anemia in turn can cause complications such as low oxygen levels in important organs such as the heart which can cause a heart attack. Colon cancer can also cause cerebral or brain metastases which is a condition in which the cancer spread to the brain from the colon. Brain cancer is very dangerous because the cancer destroys the brain cells directly causing inflammation and compressing parts of the brain as the tumor grows in size. It can cause brain swelling and increase of pressure within the skull. Brain tumor causes headaches, vomiting, personality changes, emotional instability, memory loss, seizures, vision changes, and changes in sensation, weakness, speech difficulties, decreased motor coordination, fever, lethargy and a general ill feeling. When the cancer spreads from the colon, it usually affects the liver first causing liver metastases. Liver metastases can cause weight loss, pain in the abdomen, jaundice, fever, sweating, nausea and anorexia. During the later stages of the disease, liver failure may occur. It has been seen that if colon cancer is not treated, it can result in fatal complications that affect other parts of the body. If left untreated, the cancer spreads to other parts causing more complications and problems. Therefore it is best to get screened regularly and get treated as soon as possible to cure the cancer. Sources used: http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/c/colorectal/complic.htm http://www.netwellness.org/healthtopics/coloncancer/more.cfm?categoryid=3 |
