Sigmoid cancer

Sigmoid cancer is an inconspicuous killer. Understand this will help the anatomical location of this organ. It is part of the large intestine passing into the rectum. Anatomically, this connection is similar to the letter S, slightly oblique on its side.

The gut on all sides is covered with a leaf of the peritoneum, which firmly fixes it to neighboring formations. Here, feces are formed, so it is especially important to receive a sufficient number of components with the food masses, which are stimulants of peristalsis. In the opposite case, there is a violation of blood circulation, which is a consequence of pressure on the wall of accumulated harmful products of the body's vital activity.

This situation contributes to the growth of the epithelium from which then forms the cancer of the sigmoid colon. But first there is an adenomatous polyp, which then passes into an intermediate state, and then into the tumor itself - adenocarcinoma. Circulatory features do not allow the neoplasm to develop rapidly, manifestation is also absent. Another feature is the appearance of pain in the late stages of the tumor process, since the thick peritoneum muffles the clinical symptoms.

Causes

Cancer of the sigmoid colon does not have precisely established causes of development. However, the patterns of the tumor process in this part of the intestine have been fairly well studied. These include: a decrease in peristalsis, promoted by the use of small amounts of plant food, and drugs, poisons (which include nicotine, alcohol), which are used after surgery. The risk of the disease increases with the presence of polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, chronic intoxication. The oncological process often develops in individuals who are over 50 years old. For younger people, sigmoid cancer is not characteristic.

Symptoms

The clinical picture of this disease is very dim. In medical practice, such symptoms are called monotonous or inexpressive. These include aching pains in the abdomen, stools, which in some cases disappear on their own, fatigue, weakness, pallor, deterioration of appetite, which can be accompanied by a distortion of taste preferences, weight loss. With the further growth of the tumor, blood appears in the fecal masses, the dimensions of the liver increase, the color of the skin changes, which acquires a grayish-yellow color, symptoms of chronic intoxication join. A dangerous sign is ascites. The last stages of the disease are characterized by intestinal obstruction, massive bleeding, abscesses of the intestine.

Diagnosis and treatment

Sigmoid cancer is diagnosed very simply. This is due to its anatomical position. Direct location in front of the rectum allows finger research through this department. With the timely conduct of the tumor is found in the early stages of development, which allows for successful treatment.

When the first symptoms appear, it is necessary to perform a sigmoidoscopy, irrigoscopy, ultrasound examination of the abdominal cavity, colonoscopy. The latter implies an obligatory biopsy, which allows us to distinguish pathological and normal tissues.

After the diagnosis and subsequent confirmation of the tumor process , a diagnosis is made - cancer of the sigmoid colon. Treatment of this disease is only surgical. The tumor has a slow growth and almost does not give metastases, which allows to achieve a cure in the first stages.

Sigmoid colon cancer is a dangerous disease, as it does not let you know about yourself for a long time and is found in the late stages, but with early diagnosis it poses no threat to life.