The most frequently diagnosed cancers in Spain in 2023 will be those of the colon and rectum (42,721 new cases), followed by breast cancer (35,001) and lung cancer (31,282), according to the estimate of the Spanish Society of Oncology by tumor type (excluding skin cancers).
Colon cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the large intestine (colon). The colon is the final part of the digestive tract.
It affects any age, but more to the elderly
As explained in Mayo Clinic, colon cancer usually affects older adults, although it can occur at any age. “It usually begins as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called polyps that are formed inside the colon. Over time, some of these polyps can develop into colon cancer.”
The importance of screening tests
Polyps can be small and cause few or no symptoms. For this reason, doctors recommend regular screening tests to help prevent colon cancer by identifying and removing polyps before they turn into cancer.
Treatments
If colon cancer does develop, there are many treatments available to help control it, including surgeryradiotherapy and pharmacological treatmentsas the chemotherapy, targeted therapy and immunotherapy.
Colon cancer is sometimes called Colorectal cancer, which is a term that combines colon cancer and rectal cancer, which begins in the rectum.
Colon and rectal cancer, the most frequent in Spain, has taken the lives of celebrities such as the singer Pau Donés, manolo escobarBrazilian soccer player Skinthe actress Audrey Hepburn or the former presidents of the United States Ronald Reagan and from Venezuela Hugo Chavez.
survival rate
According to Spanish Association Against Cancerthe 5-year survival rate for people with colorectal cancer reaches 65%. However, survival rates can vary depending on various factors, especially stage, with the 5-year survival rate being 90% for people with localized colorectal cancer and less than 10% for advanced stage.
