Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in adults. It is also one of the leading causes of cancer-related death, with over 50% of patients succumbing. The good news is that colorectal cancer can be detected early on and treated with surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy.
Pediatric colorectal cancer is rare but does exist in children older than 12 years old.
What is Pediatric Colorectal Cancer?
Pediatric colorectal cancer is a rare type of cancer that affects children aged 12 years old and older similar to colon cancer.
What are the signs, symptoms & side effects?
Rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, and passing out stools with bright red blood in it often. Other symptoms could include pain while defecating, weight loss, fatigue, etc., swelling in limbs/other areas instead of the abdomen, which is a common location for tumors to form due to proximity to the large intestine, colon, and other factors organs.
Many children experience fever as well, even if there are no bacterial infections present because the body tries fighting cancer cells by producing more white blood cells (in turn causing an increase in temperature.
Slow growing, painless tumors that cause bleeding and other symptoms related to gastrointestinal tract issues over time - hematochezia (passing bright red blood in Stool), maroon or black stools with foul smell, stomach pains/weight loss, etc., - diarrhea alternating with constipation leading to dehydration because of less intake of liquids due to difficulty passing motion as well as vomiting.
Other common symptoms include fever even if there is no bacterial infection present or blood in vomit which indicate more serious conditions like Crohn's disease instead of just benign tumors. Rectal itching and pain while defecating are also quite common since cancer cells grow near the large intestine where waste products pass through to be excreted - bloating, gas pains, etc.,
Abdominal pain and fatigue. Rectal bleeding is also evident in many cases due to the proximity of tumors to the anus or inside the rectum. Though these symptoms could occur because of other conditions as well so it's important not to self-diagnose without consulting a doctor first.
Severe pain in the stomach, back, or side- this can be due to ileus, which means when bowel movements are blocked by tumor cells, abdominal welling caused by fluid collection in the abdomen- ascites swollen lymph nodes on both sides of the lower part of throat constipation and diarrhea.
Intestinal obstruction may also cause these symptoms. Nausea, indigestion, vomiting, loss of appetite with weight loss/weight gain if the patient eats too much or does not eat at all, respectively. fatigue abdominal distention fever & chills difficulty breathing skin changes like itching or darkening skin color weakness, bone fractures due to cancer metastasis
Stool that is dark in color- this may be due to bleeding, foul-smelling stool- this can also be a sign of bowel obstruction (when Stool cannot pass) or bowel perforation (hole in the intestines, usually happens when the tumor has spread. This results in severe abdominal pain and fever.
Stools with traces of blood or mucus in the Stool, stools that are shaped like pencils or narrow bananas. Stool consistency can also be loose when bowels don't move for a long time. This is called constipation. On the other hand, loose stools may indicate diarrhea, which usually happens when there is an infection in the intestine.
How does Pediatric Colorectal Cancer progress?
It usually starts off as polyps (often benign) inside the large intestine before turning into cancers over time. Tumors may grow slowly at first but worsen with age until they reach advanced stages. At this stage, it will be difficult to treat cancer without removing major organs.
How is Pediatric Colorectal Cancer diagnosed?
Your doctor will need to conduct a physical exam and order lab tests such as CT scan, MRI, x-ray, or ultrasounds. A biopsy may be necessary if your child has certain symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, rectal bleeding, or abdominal pain, among others. This involves removing cells with the help of a long needle inserted through the skin.
Other diagnostic methods include colonoscopy (where an endoscope - similar to that used for upper gastrointestinal tract check-up is inserted into large intestine), barium enema (contrast agent injected into small intestine then X-rays are taken), sigmoidoscopy (camera attached to scope passed down the common pathway to check for tumors) or proctoscopy (passing scope through the anus to check rectal area).
Is there a cure?
Pediatric colorectal cancer is best treated by surgery in the early stages. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be given if the tumor has grown large or metastasized. Surgery can involve removing part of the intestine, colon, small bowel, and lymph nodes containing cancer cells if available.
The doctor will try to remove as much affected tissue while minimizing the damage done to healthy ones around it. Metastasis is irreversible, so treatment targets reoccurrence instead. This involves chemotherapy drugs that aim to kill fast-growing cells but have severe side effects like hair loss, fatigue, etc. Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams to kill cancer cells and shrink tumor size. Other treatments include targeted therapy, immunotherapy, or palliative care for symptom management.
How can you prevent Pediatric Colorectal Cancer?
Prevention starts with being aware of the signs and symptoms early on, so it is possible to detect colorectal cancers in their earliest stages. This way, your doctor will be able to remove polyps before they turn into tumors that spread throughout the body. Preventive methods include colonoscopy screening at regular intervals from age 50 onwards if no risk factors are present (note: children don't get screened routinely).
In families where cases have been reported earlier, doctors may opt for genetic testing as well since some inherited gene mutations can cause cancer.
Children and adults should eat a well-balanced diet that is high in fiber and low in red meat. This helps boost digestive system health to prevent constipation, diarrhea, or other common symptoms related to gastrointestinal tract issues that can lead to colorectal cancer over time.
People with risk factors such as obesity, smoking, alcohol intake, etc., should avoid them as much as possible for disease prevention. Furthermore, those who have undergone colonoscopy earlier should consider getting tested again after a few years since polyps may reappear later. It's also important not to ignore any signs of rectal bleeding because this could indicate more serious conditions like Crohn's disease rather than just benign tumors. Scratching the anus excessively due to pain while passing motion or experiencing itching should also be addressed at doctor's appointments.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.