Colon cancer is considered to be the third leading cause of cancer-associated deaths in America, both in men and women (Ollberding, Nomura & Kolonel, 2011). A majority of cancers that attacks the colon tend to develop from polyps. Polyps are basically growths that tend to emerge within the soft inner lining of the existing colon. While most polyps are not cancerous, adenomatous polyps or adenomas polyps have been linked to the disease.(Sylvester, Huo & Zhang, 2011). If a person has more than two polyps within the colon, it means that he has a higher likelihood for colon cancer.
With regards to patient factors, an individual's chance of developing colon cancer becomes higher as one becomes older (Wong, 2010). Additional, people suffering from Type 2 diabetes or inflammatory stomach illness, or have family history of having colon cancer also raises an individual's chance for developing the illness (Askari, 2017). It is, therefore, important to know the causes together with risk factors for colon cancer in order to better comprehend the significance of routine screening for the disease, and learn if one should begin screening at an earlier age.
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Discussion
Health experts have discovered that there are various factors that tend to increase an individual's risk for developing colon cancer, some within the individual's management, and some not, such as ethnicity, race, genetics, or age. In America, racial disparities with regards to colorectal cancer frequency and death have been recorded in patients of African descent compared to their Caucasian counterparts (Carethers, 2018). Contrarily, such incidents are lower in Hispanics compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts (Ollberding, Nomura & Kolonel, 2011). The impact of ethnicity on diagnosis of colon cancer could be due to distinctions in environmental factors and genetic backgrounds, in addition to distinctions in utilisation and availability of health care services.
American Indian, Alaska Native, Hispanic, Pacific Islander, Asian, and African American populations are currently considered the most rapidly growing ethnic and racial minority groups in America. That is why having the most precise statistical information is important to providing cancer prevention and managing programs for these groups (Sylvester, Huo & Zhang, 2011). Recent research reveals that on average, minorities are diagnosed between the ages of 64 years and 68 years, while non-Hispanic Whites are normally diagnosed at the age of 72 years ( Wong, 2010). In the course of diagnosis, minority groups usually have more advanced cases of colon cancer as in the highlighted case scenario.
James is a 60-year-old male of African American descent who started experiencing frequent episodes of endless constipation. James also complained of experiencing increased fatigue than usual. As result, on many occasions, he was forced to take breaks while strolling around his farm. The symptom prompted James to seek medical attention from his doctor. With some close examination, James was advised to have a colonoscopy as part of managing his constipation. James scheduled for a colonoscopy in the following week. However, after two weeks, James experiencing excruciating abdominal pain as well as severe constipation, which subsequently led to his admission. After undergoing both a computed tomography scan as well as magnetic resonance imaging of his abdomen and pelvis area, the results revealed a mass in his sigmoid colon. Further tests were done including a biopsy, they revealed that indeed James was suffering from colon cancer.
African Americans not only have the highest colon cancer occurrences, particularly among ethnic groups, but also have poorer 5-year survival rates compared to their White counterparts (Askari, 2017). In the chromosomal instability pathway, there are polymorphisms within the P53 gene that are more common in blacks, although the importance of these polymorphisms is not completely known. Furthermore, African Americans are more likely to show micro-satellite instability in their tumors (Ollberding, Nomura & Kolonel, 2011). A plethora of carcinogens such as those existent in tobacco smoke, reach the colonic mucosal epithelium, causing genetic mutations (Carethers, 2018). Additionally, colonic microbiota also plays a significant role in mediating the influence of diet in colorectal cancer.
Conclusion
As discussed above, colorectal cancer is considered to be the third most diagnosed cancer in American men and women. It also accounts for about 9% of all cancer-associated deaths. Among the facts linked with increased risk of colon cancer is ethnicity or race. It is clear that there are a few disparities in the occurrence of colon cancer, phase at diagnosis, and death in research data. Furthermore, African Americans tend to be more prone to colon cancer compared to their Hispanic and Caucasian counterparts. Environmental or biological exposures are different between subpopulations to affect risk of colon cancer.
References
Askari, A. (2017). 'The relationship between ethnicity, social deprivation and late presentation of colorectal cancer.' Cancer Epidemiology , 47. Pp. 88 - 93.
Carethers, J.M. (2018). 'Clinical and generic factors to inform reducing colorectal cancer disparities in African Americans.' Frontiers in Oncology , 8. Pp. 531.
Ollberding, N.J., Nomura, A.M.Y., & Kolonel, L.N. (2011). 'Racial/ethnic differences in colorectal cancer risks: The multiethnic cohort study.' Int J Cancer , 129(8). Pp. 1899 - 1906.
Sylvester, B., Huo, D., & Zhang, J. (2011). 'Molecular analysis of colorectal tumors within a diverse patient cohort at a single institution.' Clinical Cancer Research , 18(2). Pp. 350 - 359.
Wong, R. (2010). 'Proximal tumors are associated with greater mortality in colon cancer.' Journal of Internal General Medicine , 25(11). Pp.1157 - 1163.
