Contents:
- Medical Video: New Findings in Colorectal Cancer Research - Dr. Parul Shukla
- What types of cancer might appear after colon cancer?
- What types of cancer might appear after rectal cancer?
- Can you treat or prevent cancer from recurring?
Medical Video: New Findings in Colorectal Cancer Research - Dr. Parul Shukla
Post-cancer treatment, cancer survivors can be faced with a number of other health problems. But often the main concern is whether cancer can recur. If the cancer returns after treatment, this is called "recurrence." However, some survivors of colon cancer can be affected by other types of cancer in the future that are not related to the former. new and different cancers from the old one called "secondary cancer".
Unfortunately, undergoing cancer treatment does not mean you will be immune from getting cancer again. Regardless of the type of cancer you have had, you are still likely to get another cancer that is completely new, even after surviving the first. In fact, some types of cancer and cancer treatment can be linked to a higher risk for some types of cancer.
What types of cancer might appear after colon cancer?
Survivors of colon cancer can get cancer of any type, but they are more at risk of being affected:
- Second colon cancer (which is different from the first cancer, meaning this is not recurrence)
- Rectal cancer
- Gastric cancer
- Small bowel cancer
- Anal cancer
- Cancer of the bile duct
- Cervical cancer
- Kidney cancer
- Urethral cancer (the channel that connects the kidney to the bladder)
The most common type of recurrence or secondary cancer after colon cancer is cancer in the digestive system. This may be due to similar risk factors, such as poor diet, obesity, and lack of physical activity. Genetics can also be a risk factor, for example, people with family-derived non-polyposis colon cancer syndrome (or Lynch syndrome), have a higher risk for many types of cancer, including cancers in the large intestine, rectum, small intestine, stomach, bile duct, uterus and ureter.
It is not clear whether the risk of lung cancer will increase as the chances of the cancer recurrence. Existing studies have not got the same conclusions about this.
What types of cancer might appear after rectal cancer?
Rectal survivors can get cancer of any type, but they are more at risk of being affected:
- Colon cancer
- Small bowel cancer
- Lung cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Kidney cancer
Patients treated with radiation therapy have a higher risk for bladder cancer and uterine cancer.
Patients diagnosed with rectal cancer before the age of 50 have a high risk of cancer in the large intestine, small intestine, bile duct, and uterus. These cancers are found in patients with Lynch syndrome.
Can you treat or prevent cancer from recurring?
After completing treatment for colon cancer, you should still see a doctor regularly to check for signs of whether the cancer has returned or spread. You will undergo a routine colonoscopy to check whether the cancer has returned in the large intestine, and also to check for cancer and new colorectal polyps. Experts do not recommend additional tests to check for second cancer in asymptomatic people. Tell your doctor about new symptoms or problems, because this can be caused by a cancer that returns or by a new disease or second cancer.
Survivors of colon cancer must avoid cigarettes and other tobacco products. Smoking increases the risk of many types of cancer.
To help maintain good health, survivors must also:
- Reach and maintain a healthy body weight
- Adopt a physically active lifestyle
- Have a healthy diet, with emphasis on plant foods
- Limit alcohol consumption to a maximum of 1 cup per day for women, or 2 cups per day for men
These steps can also reduce the risk of some cancers recurring or appearing new in the future.
Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
