Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease which affects the intestines. It is a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract from mouth to anus. It causes small ulcerations in the small intestine, colon or sometimes in both. If it affects the small intestine, it may cause obstruction of the intestine. Unfortunately, if you suffer from you have to worry about the risk of colon cancer. It is said however that only 10% of people suffer from both and a cancerous colon. The age group that is most likely to get affected by this disease is between 15 years to 35 years. It is also likely to affect a younger age group.

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If you have been suffering from over an extended period of time, you are said to be at a greater risk of developing cancer. During this period of 8 to 10 years, the entire colon gets affected. The possibility of a cancerous risk is however less if you have been suffering from this disease for only a few years and the disease has affected only a part of your colon. You are at the lowest risk if only the rectum has been affected. If other areas of the digestive tract other than the colon get affected, you are at a very minimal risk of getting cancer. You have to be always alert to detect symptoms of and cancerous colon. You need to always rule out the possibility of cancer with Crohn's disease. It is thus important to clearly study the onset of symptoms, its frequency as well as its intensity.

The early symptoms of the are very similar to any other inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBD). The most common symptoms are that of diarrhea and rectal bleeding. These symptoms may not cause any concern but it is advisable to make a visit to your gastroenterologist every year if you have been suffering from Crohn's for a long time. The disease is detected through colonoscopy. Through this examination, the gastroenterologist studies the appearance of your colon and takes biopsies if required to examine any affected tissue. Colonoscopy is not a completely reliable method to detect any presence of



cancerous cells. Presently, this study with multiple biopsies is considered the most reliable method for study of cancer.

Symptoms

• Abdominal pain
  
• Diarrhea
  
• Fever
  
• Vomiting
  
• Rectal bleeding
  
• Weight loss
  
• Constipation
  
• Skin rashes
  
• Arthritis
  
• Inflammation of the eye
  
• Flatus and bloating
  

You can find reddish, tender skin nodules, inflammation of the joints, eyes, liver and spine.

A colon cancer is not a must in every patient suffering from Crohn's. There is plenty of information available on the internet if you would like to get convinced further on this. You can even check with your doctor to get further information. There is enough literature available on the possibility of developing cancer. You can also get a clear understanding about your condition and the do's and don'ts that you need to follow. All that you have to do is have regular checkups, lead a healthy lifestyle and most importantly have positive thinking.

Crohn's disease and cancerous colon do not necessarily go hand in hand. If you have been suffering from this disease for long, you can rule out the possibility of a cancerous risk by seeing a gastroenterologist.