Bowel cancer

This is the 4th most common cancer in the UK.

 

Types (by region)

• Colon cancer
• The colon is part of the large bowel. Cancer found in the colon can also be called colorectal cancer.
• Rectal cancer
• The rectum is the lower part of the large bowel. Cancer found in the rectum can also be called colorectal cancer.
• Small bowel cancer
• The small bowel makes up three quarters of the digestive system, but cancers in this area are rare.
• Anal cancer
• The anus is the opening at the end of the large bowel. Cancer of the anus is rare.

 

Hereditary neoplastic syndromes

• Familial adenomatous polyposis  
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal neoplasms

 

Histology

• The vast majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. 

 

Common metastatic sites

• Liver
• Lungs 
• Peritoneum

 

Investigations

• Faecal occult blood

Management

Chemotherapy

• 5-FU 
• Capecitabine  (becomes 5-FU)
• Oxaliplatin 
• Irinotecan

Radiotherapy

• External radiotherapy
• IMRT (Cyberknife)
• Internal radiotherapy 
• Papillon technique

Surgical

• Resection
• Enterostomy
• Cytoreductive surgery
• Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy 

Complimentary therapy

• Massage
• Reflexology

Palliative care 

• Enterostomy
• Hartmann’s procedure