Colon cancer is a malignant tumor of the large intestine. It is the second most common cancer in men and women over 50 years old. It attacks surrounding tissues, and cancer cells can migrate into other organs. Often there are no early symptoms so regular check-ups with a colonoscopy is recommended for people older than 50 years old. Treatment consists of surgical removal with or without chemotherapy or radiation.
Colon cancer is a cancer that affects the large intestine that is the lower part of the digestive system. Rectal cancer is a cancer that affects the last inches of the colon. The two conditions together are named colorectal cancers. Most cases of colon cancer start as noncancerous, small, benign clumps of cells. In this case, they can produce few, if any, symptoms at all. That is why doctors recommend regular screening tests, which is basically a proactive prevention strategy for colon cancer by having an early detection and if needed removal of clumps of cells before they can become malignant.
Most cases of colon cancer (90%) begin as small, benign accumulations of cells called adenomatous polyps. Over some years, some of these polyps slowly become malignant and turn into colon cancer. Risk factors for colon cancer include: 1) improper diet with high-fat, low fibre and a high intake of red meats, 2) having colorectal polyps, 3) having inflammatory bowel disease, 4) having a positive family history, 5) inherited disease such as familial adenomatous polyposis or 6) long history of smoking or drinking alcohol. People with colon cancer may have symptoms such abdominal pain and tenderness, blood in the stool, diarrhoea, difficult defecation and weight loss without known cause, fever or night sweats. Screenings can help diagnosing colon cancer in an early stage. Those are physical examinations with rectal palpations as well as regular colonoscopies for persons above the age of 50. An early detection improves the chances of a successful treatment.
Treatments of colon cancer depend on the stage of the cancer and include: 1) Surgery with complete removal of the cancer cells: Early stage (Stage 0) colon cancer may be removed by colonoscopy to eliminate the cancer cells. For stages 1, 2, and 3, a more invasive surgery known as a partial colon resection is required to remove the part of the colon that is cancerous. 2) Chemotherapy to kill cancer cells: patients with stage 3 colon cancer normally receive chemotherapy for 6-8 months after surgery. It is also used to reduce symptoms and to prolong the survival of patients with stage 4 colon cancer. 3) Radiation therapy to destroy the cancerous tissue is usually used in the presence of rectal cancers to reduce their size before surgery. Most important in prevention of colorectal cancer is a regular check-up with a colonoscopy for people older than 50 years.
Several years of work in academia, medical practice and finally commercialization make it possible to provide an end-to-end process to help users to “find the appropriate medical help based on their present symptoms”. Below you will find a short explanation, showing you which part of the platform will help you best in finding the appropriate medical support.
Proceed as follows to enter your current symptoms.
Click on the appropriate body part on the picture. Select one/multiple symptoms corresponding to your complaint.
You can also add symptoms by typing your medical complaint in the search box and selecting the best matching suggestion.
Note: Your information will be kept anonymously.
Once you have selected all applicable symptoms, click the “analyze disease pattern”-button.
Accordingly, you will get a list of possible diseases and matching doctor categories who can further help you.
You can inform yourself about the possible diseases by reading the related information. But you can also return to the previous step and add more symptoms or delete already added ones to further narrow down your disease pattern.
Click on the desired doctor category to find a doctor who can help you.
If you are logged in with your profile, you will be displayed the appropriate doctors in your area. Otherwise you can enter an address in the “address” field and you will be displayed a doctor’s list around that specified address.
You will receive further information about the displayed doctors when you press on “details”.
Online bookable doctors in your area will be indicated with the notation “Book appointment” or “Book externally”, additionally they will be displayed on top of the list for your convenience.
Click on “Book appointment” to start the online appointment booking process with the desired doctor.
Please select an available appointment. “Green“ appointments are booked directly. “Red“ appointments need to be confirmed by the doctor.
Enter your general personal and health information.
Enter your present medical symptoms.
Enter your mobile phone number to identify yourself and you can finalize the appointment booking.
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