Early Detection Saves Lives Before you can fully understand early symptoms of colon cancer, it is important to understand where exactly it occurs within your body. A colon refers to the final part of the digestive system; specifically, it is part of the large intestine. The purpose of a colon is to help prepare your digested foods for excretion. It stores your waste as it waits to vacate your body and plays a very minor part in extracting nutrients in the final stages of digestion. What is Colon Cancer? As the name suggests, colon cancer is a cancer that starts in the colon. Cancer occurs when cells, instead of replicating at a regular rate, begin to divide rapidly, causing tumors to form, and disrupting healthy bodily functions. As cancers progress, the growing cells can travel to other regions of the body. [youmaylike] What are Polyps? Polyps are growths that can grow within the colon. Having polyp growth does not mean you will get colon cancer. While not all polyps are cancerous, almost all malignant tumors in the colon start as polyps. Upon examination, your doctor will be able to give you more information on what your options are. Generally, a physician will perform a colonoscopy to remove it. Once removed, a pathologist can examine the tissue to determine whether or not the sample is dangerous and if further actions need to be taken. Symptoms of Polyps Polyps are not something you can see. To know something is not quite right, you will have to monitor your regular bodily functions. The most commonly reported symptoms related to polyp formation are: Rectal bleeding: If you notice that your rectum is bleeding, this could be due to polyp formation. It is important to recognize that this is also a common symptom of other problems such as hemorrhoids or anal tears. If it happens persistently, you should consider visiting your doctor for an internal examination. Abdominal pain: When polyps are rather big, they can obstruct the bowel. In doing so, it can cause problems that manifest as cramps or other abdominal pain. Irregular-colored stools: Even if you cannot notice it directly, rectal bleeding can influence the color of the stool. You may notice some small red stripes in mild cases. In more serious cases, heavy bleeding may cause your poop to appear black. Before you start to worry, make sure these color changes are not simply due to a change in diet, medication, or supplement use. Anemia: If polyps continue to bleed for a prolonged time, they may cause the development of an iron deficiency. Anemia can manifest in several ways, including fatigue, shortness of breath, feeling dizzy, fainting, or having abnormally pale skin. Common Early Symptoms of Colon Cancer Polyps themselves are, again, not a direct indication of colon cancer. While cancer can develop from a polyp, there are other symptoms which separate the benign and malignant development. Symptoms of colon cancer are different for everyone, but the most commonly reported signs are: Changes in bowel movements: Particularly, you want to pay attention to the consistency of your stools. If it looks different or you develop constipation or diarrhea for an extended time, talk to your doctor. Rectal bleeding: You might pass bloody stools. Abdominal pain: Any type of discomfort, such as cramps or gas, should be monitored. Fatigue: Feeling weak or consistently tired despite adequate rest can be a sign of many medical problems. Weight loss: Unexplained weight loss may be a sign of a lack of nutrition due to a malfunctioning digestive tract. Essentially, if your intestines are not able to properly absorb nutrients from food, you will not get enough nutrition from the food you eat. The “feeling” of a full bowel: Sometimes, even after passing a bowel movement to the highest extent possible, some patients report feeling like their bowel is not “empty”. While this is a normal sensation to experience from time to time, it can be a sign of an underlying colon problem. When to See a Doctor If you notice any of these symptoms mentioned above consistently, you should schedule an appointment with a licensed physician. Even if your abnormalities are not cancerous, they can be a sign of another serious medical condition that should be addressed. The earlier you recognize a problem, the better chance you have of getting access to effective medical intervention.
Tethered Cord Syndrome
If you've never heard of tethered cord syndrome, it's likely because the condition is very rare, and thankfully so.
While this syndrome isn't typically dangerous, it can worsen if the condition is not seen. It can also cause permanent damage and diminish a person's ability to walk. But what is tethered cord syndrome?
In this article, we will briefly look at the symptoms of tethered cord syndrome, the causes, and the best ways to treat this neurological disease.
What is Tethered Cord Syndrome?
In this condition, the cord in tethered cord refers to the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is an essential component of the human body. It carries messages from the brain to all the other parts of the body through its bundle of nerves.
It occurs in a baby while it is in the womb. During development, the baby's spinal cord grows at the same pace as the other bones around it and is of the same length. But as the baby grows, the spine grows out.
But, in some cases, the spine becomes "tethered" when the cord's tail end becomes tied to the end of the body's spinal column. The spinal cord and the spine itself are different parts of the entire spine; remember that.
When the child is born, the tethered cord prevents the spinal cord from moving within the column. This doesn't affect the child as much until they start growing. Because the spinal cord cannot stretch, they start experiencing back pain and trouble walking.
Adults With Tethered Cord Syndrome
While some conditions typically become apparent in adulthood, this syndrome is not one of them.
Tethered cord syndrome is rare in adults and only occurs if the condition is not discovered or diagnosed during childhood.
Acquired tethered cord is also very rare among adults but can occur if any fatty mass at the spine's base becomes attached to the spinal cord's tip. This fatty mass can only develop if a patient has lipomyelomeningocele, a form of spina bifida.
What Are the Causes of Tethered Cord Syndrome?
There is no definitive cause of tethered cord syndrome. What we do know is that tethered cord occurs from birth with some children, and that a child with spina bifida may also have tethered cord syndrome.
Within the body, tethered cord syndrome occurs when the spinal cord end gets attached to something that doesn't let it move. What catches hold of it may include:
- Fat: Fat that grows around the spinal cord can catch it and grab hold.
- Bone: A piece of the spinal bone can attach to the spinal cord base.
- Scarring: If your child has back surgery, scars that form around the cord's bottom end can grab the spinal cord.
- Tight Ligament: This tight ligament is known as the filum terminale. This ligament is as thin as a string and is stretchy, but when tightened, it can catch and tether the spinal cord.
What Are the Symptoms of Tethered Cord Syndrome?
The most common symptoms of tethered cord syndrome include:
- Lack of bowel control: The child may have problems controlling their bowels because the nerves cannot stretch as much as they should.
- Lack of bladder control: For the same reason, because the child's spinal cord cannot stretch, the child may not feel when they want to urinate and would wet themselves without knowing.
- Back pain: The child may experience lower back pain and limited movement.
- Curved spine: Because the spinal cord is attached at the base, this may pull the spine down, causing the spine to curve.
- Trouble walking: While the child may not have issues walking before, they may begin experiencing issues walking as they grow up.
Diagnosing and Treating Tethered Cord Syndrome
If a parent notices these symptoms, their first step should be to take the child to the doctor. If the doctor suspects tethered cord syndrome, they will ask to run some tests to get a better picture of the child's spinal cord.
They may run an MRI and get a urology consultation to check if the child's bladder is affected. If results come back positive, the doctor will recommend surgery.
Treating Tethered Cord Syndrome With Surgery
While surgery may sound intimidating, it is necessary.
Surgery on the spine to correct a tethered cord is known as a laminectomy. And while this is major surgery, it's also common, so there's no need to worry. The laminectomy is compulsory if you want your child's spine fixed. If this operation is not done, it may make your child's condition even worse and result in permanent damage to the spine.
The Surgery Procedure
The patient will be given a general anesthetic, so they won't feel a thing.
During the operation, the doctor will make an incision on the patient's back and cut whatever element is tethering the cord. Once its hold is released and the cord returns to the spinal column, the surgeon will close up the incision.
This surgery takes three hours and requires a fair bit of surgical skill, so don't be concerned if your child doesn't come out within an hour.
After Care
The child will receive pain medication and fluids through IV and will be required to lie flat on their back for 2–3 days. Moving the child will be the nurse's responsibility, so you won't have to perform much care except feeding them.
Typically, children stay in the hospital for about a week, but that can vary depending on how severe their tethered cord was. Once the doctor feels comfortable knowing that the child can sit up, they'll allow you to take the child home.
Closing Thoughts
As a parent, you will worry about your child being in pain because of the tethered cord.
But, if you keep an eye on their health and report to the doctor if anything seems amiss, you may be able to catch this condition in time.