Science+Paper

Nik Jameson Biology 4/7/09   __Disease Genes __    Genetic disorders are diseases caused by an abnormality in either the genes or the chromosomes. Abnormalities range anywhere from a small mutation in an individual gene to an entirely missing chromosome. Genetic disorders are very rare, usually only affecting one person per thousand or even sometimes one person per million. Some types of these diseases are caused partly by genetic disorders, but can also be affected by the environment. Disorders such as these include cancer. Colorectal cancer, also known as colon cancer, is cancer in which cancerous growths (adenomatous polyps) grow in the colon, rectum, and appendix. Colon cancer results in 655.000 deaths per year, and is the third most common type of cancer, behind lung and stomach cancer. Colon cancer is also the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the occidental world. Causes of colorectal cancer include family history, high fat intake, the presence of polyps in the large intestine, and chronic ulcerative colitis. Colorectal cancer has a great number of symptoms, both physical and otherwise. Symptoms of colon cancer depend greatly on where the tumor is located in the large bowel. Fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, [|weight loss], [|abdominal pain] , cramps, and/or bloating are all symptoms of colorectal cancer. Many other symptoms of this cancer have to do with defecation, including change in bowel habits, narrow stools, [|diarrhea] or [|constipation], and red or dark blood in stool. Like most cancers, colon cancer is very curable when detected in its early stages, though when detected later it is not likely curable. Unfortunately there is no complete way to prevent colorectal cancer, but if detected and removed before the precancerous polyps become cancerous, colon cancer is very curable. The primary treatment of the cancer is surgery, while chemotherapy is still recommended.