Colon Carcinoma

The sigmoid colon is a loop of the large intestine, which is on an average 40 cm. in length. It lies behind the pelvis, displaced into the abdominal cavity. Carcinoma of the Sigmoid Colon is seen more commonly between the ages of 40 and 80. The disease has its highest incidence between the ages of 60 and 70 years. And, surprisingly, women are more prone to get inflicted by it, than men.

The colorectal cancer is a life-threatening, uncontrolled growth of tumor, which takes place in the large intestine, including the rectum. About two-thirds of these cancers occur in the sigmoid region of the intestine and are known as the cancer of the sigmoid colon. One-third occurs at the junction of the sigmoid colon and the rectum.

The cancer has its incidence more on the denizens of the western world rather than Asia. This is quite a peculiar statistic and the scientists are still trying to find out why it is so.

Recent studies have shown that colorectal cancer, including the sigmoid colon cancer, has been on a steady decline among the Caucasian communities in the United States, although, its incidence among the African-American communities has increased by almost fifty percent.

The Hispanic Caucasians have only half the mortality rates as compared to the non-Hispanic whites. Another surprising fact observed by scientists is that the migrants to the United States, even those from Asia, tend to pick up this disease at the same rate, similar to those living in their adoptive country. The disease seems to have a higher occurrence in the urban areas.

This makes it amply clear that sigmoid colon cancer has its causation more in your lifestyle, rather than your metabolism. The reasons, therefore, for developing the disease are similar to those of colorectal cancer.

If you go beyond forty, you are at risk of developing colon polyps. Multiple polyps and those exceeding a diameter of about 1.0 cm can develop into malignant neoplasms, and the sigmoid colon carcinoma.

The other causation factors are any previous cancers, a sedentary lifestyle and obesity. The development of the cancer gets hastened if the patient has the habit of taking excessive alcohol; coupled with the consumption of a high-fat, low-fiber, low-folate and a low-calcium diet.

The screening of the sigmoid colon cancer can be done by an internal examination called Sigmoidoscopy. A sigmoidoscope is used for the process. The instrument is a fiber-optic flexible tube with a small camera attached to its end. It is about twenty inches long and inserted gently into the anus, till it reaches the sigmoid colon. After this, the entire area is searched for any polyps, inflammations, etc.

If a carcinoma of the sigmoid colon is found then medications and appropriate chemotherapy is prescribed as curative measures.