All we need to know about the nursing care plan regarding colon cancer

What exactly initiates colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer generally starts by polyps in the rectum or colon area in the human body. Polyps are generally growth seen in the inner lining of the rectum or colon area. Now all polyps do not transform into cancer, but some usually do over the span of many years. Whether a polyp will change into cancer or not mainly depends on the type of polyp.

There are generally two types of polyps which can be listed down as follows:

1. Adenomatous polyps are also known as adenomas. These are the polyps that convert into cancer which is a matter of time. This is the sole reason that adenomas are also called pre-cancerous states.
2. Inflammatory polyps and hyperplastic polyps-These are the normal or general types of polyps that do not turn into cancerous conditions, so they are not considered as pre-cancerous states.

There are even other reasons that lead to pre-cancerous polyps or increase the risk of developing colorectal cancers. They may be jotted down as:

1. If the size of the polyp is more than 1 cm in size, then it is probable to be cancerous.
2. If there exist more than two polyps in the area.
3. If after the removal of the polyp there is seen a dysplasia. Dysplasia is basically a pre-cancerous condition.

There is a number of nursing care for colon cancer.

Colorectal cancer may be divided into a number of parts which are summarized and listed below:

1. Colorectal adenocarcinoma: ‘Adeno’ refers to glands and carcinoma is a particular type of cancer that initiates in the epithelial cells that constitute the inner and outer sections of the bodily organs. Colorectal adenocarcinoma affects the thin lining present in the rectum or colon that ultimately leads to the organ called large intestine.
2. Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors: These tumors can be generally observed in the nerve cells that are known as neuroendocrine cells. These cells help in the production of the hormone in the human body. A tumor that develops here is called neuroendocrine cancers which are cancerous.
3. Primary Colorectal Lymphomas: This is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma which is cancerous in nature. This kind of lymphoma develops in the lymphatic system. Lymphoma develops in many different organs of the body which may include the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and the digestive tracts.
4. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors: This is another type of colorectal cancer that develops in the special cells on the lining of the gastrointestinal tracts or GI tracts. 50% of the total gastrointestinal stromal tumors develop in the stomach itself.
5. Leiomyosarcomas: This falls under the category of sarcomas which means cancer in the smooth muscles. Three layers of the muscles of the colon and rectum are mainly affected by leiomyosarcoma.

There is a number of the nursing care plan for colon cancer for all the different types mentioned above.

The following are the symptoms of colorectal cancer:

1. There is a considerable change in the habits as far as bowel movements are concerned, diarrhea, constipation, there is a significant alteration in the consistency of the feces or stool.
2. Blood could be seen in the stool.
3. Pain or discomfort in the abdominal region.
4. The satisfaction after a bowel movement is not up to the mark.
5. Weakness, weight loss.

A nursing care plan for a patient with colon cancer may vary with different reasons.

It is not exactly clear as to what causes colon cancer. Doctors can detect colon cancer when they see the alteration in the DNA structure of the healthy cells in the colon. They may be either due to the genetic hereditary between the parent and the offspring or may be due to the difference in the diet of a human being. There are a number of nursing care plan of colorectal cancer.

What are the factors of risk that may lead to colorectal cancer?

The following are the risks that may cause colorectal cancer:

1. Old aged people may have high chances of colorectal cancer.
2. The race of the African-American.
3. If the colorectal cancer genes are there in the family.
4. Intestinal reason with may cause it.
5. Drinking alcohol.
6. Smoking cigarettes or taking other forms of tobacco.
7. Increase in the body mass leading to obesity.

If a person develops colorectal cancer, there are a number of nursing cares for colorectal cancer.  

Treatment of cancer will be based on the type of cancer and the stage in which it resides. Also, it depends on the health status, the age of the person, etc. Cancer is almost untreatable but in the first few stages of chemotherapy. Surgeries and therapies involving radiation may help greatly.

Care24 is one of the main nursing caretakers for colorectal cancer.