Colorectal Cancer
Monday, March 3, 2008

In today’s 60 Second Housecall, Dr. Ken Davis begins a four-part series on a leading killer, colorectal cancer.

The colon has four sections and cancer can start anywhere in the colon. The wall of each of these sections has several layers of tissues. Cancer starts in the inner layer and grows outward.

Cancer that starts in the different areas of the colon may cause different symptoms.  Over 95 percent of colon and rectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. These are cancers of the cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum.

In most cases, colorectal cancer develops slowly over a period of several years. Most of these cancers begin as a polyp--a growth of tissue that starts in the lining and grows into the center of the colon or rectum. A type of polyp known as an adenoma can become cancerous. Removing the polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer.  This is why screening and early detection can save your life.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.