Colorectal cancer and Crohn's disease



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The characteristics of cancer – characteristics of cancer formation – include the maintenance of cell division even after it is no longer needed, as well as the escape of growth suppressor molecules.

The spread of cancer (metastasis), as well as the formation of a new blood supply and resistance to cell death, are all signs of the beginning of cancerous growth. In addition to these characteristics of cancer, there are general health problems that can increase the risk of developing cancer, including inflammation. The inflammation can occur in many ways, including injury or certain types of inflammatory diseases.

Crohn's disease

Crohn's disease is a recurrent inflammatory bowel disease, grouped together with ulcerative colitis, and is an inherited condition that directly affects the bowel. It presents mainly severe gastrointestinal pain, fever, diarrhea, clinical signs of intestinal obstruction and the pbadage of blood and mucus. It has been found that it affects all ages and all ethnicities. It has been the subject of much scientific research on treatments and / or cures.

It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the patient's immune system attacks the cells and tissues of the intestine. The reasons are unknown and the treatment therefore consists of immunosuppressive drugs such as very light chemotherapy tablets. This may leave patients with Crohn's disease at risk for rare diseases because they are immunocompromised due to both the disease itself and immunosuppressive therapies.

Links between Crohn's disease and colorectal cancer

Since Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disorder, these patients are at increased risk for colorectal cancer. However, this is modified by the age of the patients. A 2014 study found that the risk of colorectal cancer in younger patients with Crohn's disease was only slightly higher than that of adult patients at moderate risk of colorectal cancer.

In this study, it was also observed that male patients were much more likely to develop colorectal cancer (60% higher), as well as a higher cumulative incidence after 40 years of illness. The reason for this extreme increase in risk is unknown. In addition, the incidence of colorectal cancer in Caucasian and African patients with inflammatory bowel disease has been shown to be almost identical.

Cancer is thought to be a "disease of the elderly" because it tends to affect older generations disproportionately. There are obviously many exceptions to this rule – however, the incidence of colorectal cancer increases dramatically with age. For example, in a 2009 study, fewer than 50 cases of colorectal cancer per 100,000 population in the 45-49 age group were observed, compared with more than 175 cases per 100,000 population in the 65-year age group. at 69 years old. This number only continues to increase with age – the causes being attributed to continuous cell replication in the gut, as well as the possibility of chronic inflammatory bowel disorders, such as Crohn's disease, on A long period.

Colorectal cancer is not a disease limited to 40 years and older; However, it is clear that the risk increases significantly with age – especially if the patient already has an inflammatory bowel disorder. Therefore, patients with Crohn's disease should be screened regularly for colorectal cancer, as well as other conditions related to the disease (eg, ulcerative colitis).

Further reading

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