Connection Between Colon And Breast Cancer
I have read some articles stating a relationship between colon and breast cancer. I wanted to know more about this because I had breast cancer 5 years ago and was recently diagnosed with stage 4 colon with mets. I was told the colon cancer may have been there for close to ten years.
Hi Mary, Like you @canada and @martid have also had both colon and breast cancer. I found this article from the American Cancer Society: Second Cancers After Breast Cancer
Colon cancer is very slow progressing and often doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. How was colon cancer detected in your case?
Hi Mary, Like you @canada and @martid have also had both colon and breast cancer. I found this article from the American Cancer Society: Second Cancers After Breast Cancer
Colon cancer is very slow progressing and often doesn’t cause symptoms in its early stages. How was colon cancer detected in your case?
Where In The Body Does Breast Cancer Spread
In theory, breast cancer can spread to any part of the body, but it most commonly spreads to the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, bones and sometimes the brain. Keep in mind though, that even if your breast cancer spreads to other areas of your body, its still considered breast cancer. For example, if breast cancer spreads to your lungs, it does not mean that you now have lung cancer too.
How Does Cancer Start
Cancer begins when a normal breast cell undergoes a number of mutations in genes that control the growth of the cell. These mutations may occur over a long period of time, even decades, before a cancer cell forms. A cancer cell must divide on average 30 times before it forms a mass that can be felt in the breast.
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What Is Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is breast cancer that spreads to other parts of the body. It normally affects one or more of the following body parts:
In rare cases, breast cancer does spread to the colon.
Just a little above 12 out of every 100 women will have cancer of the breast in their lifetime. Of these cases, studies have shown that just about 20 to 30 percent will develop into a metastatic form.
If breast cancer metastasizes, the treatment becomes targeted at preserving your quality of life and slowing the spread of cancer. There is no cure for metastatic breast cancer, but advancements in medical science have helped patients to live longer and more fulfilling lives.
A Personal History Of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
If you have inflammatory bowel disease , including either ulcerative colitis or Crohns disease, your risk of colorectal cancer is increased.
IBD is a condition in which the colon is inflamed over a long period of time. People who have had IBD for many years, especially if untreated, often develop dysplasia. Dysplasia is a term used to describe cells in the lining of the colon or rectum that look abnormal, but are not cancer cells. They can change into cancer over time.
If you have IBD, you may need to start getting screened for colorectal cancer when you are younger and be screened more often.
Inflammatory bowel disease is different from irritable bowel syndrome , which does not appear to increase your risk for colorectal cancer.
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Fact: Vitamin D Shows Promise For Colorectal Cancer
Scientists have done a lot of research on the role of vitamin D in colorectal cancer. The results havenât been totally consistent, but a number of studies found that higher levels of vitamin D are linked with a lower chance of getting the disease.
Clinical trials are still looking into the connection, including how the vitamin affects people who take it along with their treatment for colorectal cancer.
Am I More At Risk If My Relatives Have Cancer
Some types of cancer can run in families. For example, your risks of developing certain types of breast cancer, bowel cancer or ovarian cancer are higher if you have close relatives who developed the condition.
This doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get cancer if some of your close family members have it, but that you may have an increased risk of developing certain cancers compared with other people.
It’s estimated that between 3 and 10 in every 100 cancers are associated with an inherited faulty gene.
Cancers caused by inherited faulty genes are much less common than those caused by other factors, such as ageing, smoking, being overweight and not exercising regularly, or not eating a healthy, balanced diet. Most cancers develop as a result of a combination of risk factors, which in some cases can include family history.
Some types of cancer are less likely to be genetic, such as cervical cancer and lung cancer.
It’s only likely that a cancer gene is present in a family if:
- there are 2 or more close relatives on the same side of the family with the same type of cancer, or with particular types of cancer that are known to be linked for example, breast and ovarian cancer or bowel and womb cancer
- cancers are occurring at young ages
- a close relative has had 2 different types of cancer
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What Factors Affect The Growth Of Breast Cancer Cells
A number of factors, such as age or having a history of hormone replacement therapy, can influence the growth rate of breast cancer cells. This is important when thinking about whether a breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other organs, or has not spread at all. The type of breast cancer also matters because some can spread more quickly and do so with tumors that are still relatively small.
Treating Metastatic Breast Cancer
If you receive a diagnosis of breast cancer thats spread to your colon, your doctor will likely order additional tests to see whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body.
Once you know exactly whats going on, you and your doctor can discuss the best options for treatment. This may include one or more of the following therapies.
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Hereditary Breast And Ovarian Cancer Syndrome
Families with hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome have family members who have developed breast cancer and/or ovarian cancer. Often these cancers are found in women who are younger than the usual age these cancers are found, and some women might have more than one cancer . .
Most often, HBOC is caused by an inherited mutation in either the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene. Some families have HBOC based on cancer history, but dont have mutations in either of these genes. Scientists believe that there might also be other genes that can cause HBOC that are not yet known.
The risk of breast and ovarian cancer is very high in women with mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2. This syndrome can also lead to fallopian tube cancer, primary peritoneal cancer, male breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer, as well as some others. Some people might have more than one cancer. For example, a woman might have breast cancer in both breasts, or both breast and ovarian cancer, or a man might have both pancreatic and prostate cancer. Male breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and prostate cancer can be seen with mutations in either gene, but are more common in people with BRCA2 mutations. In the US, mutations in the BRCA genes are more common in people of Ashkenazi Jewish descent than in the general population.
Do Breast Cancer Survivors Need Earlier Or More Frequent Screening For Colorectal Cancer The Authors Of A New Systematic Review And Meta
Despite recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of cancers, people who survive any cancer are at risk of developing a second primary one. The potential burden of such cancers is therefore becoming a greater clinical concern as the population of cancer survivors grows. In fact, multiple primary cancers now account for about 17% of all cancers reported annually to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program of the National Cancer Institute. Cancer survivors may be at increased risk of second primary cancers because of genetic factors, environmental factors, and the effects of chemotherapy and radiation.1
Take Note
- The rate of second primary cancers is growing as more people survive an initial cancer, raising concerns about the initiation and frequency of screening for common cancers among this population.
- The risk of a second primary cancer is a concern for the nearly 3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. While some studies have shown an increased risk of colorectal cancer among breast cancer survivors, others have not.
- Women who were diagnosed with breast cancer when they were younger than 50 should consider beginning CRC screening earlier than recommended for the general population.
A new caution for women with breast cancer?
Some interesting findings emerge
CRC screening for women with breast cancer
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Breast Cancer Survivors Diagnosed At Younger Age Show Higher Risk For Colon Cancer
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Women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 were twice as likely to receive a diagnosis of colorectal cancer than their older counterparts, according to the results of a meta-analysis published in Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.
Lauren B. Gerson, MD, of California Pacific Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, and colleagues concluded that these patients could begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45.
Many women with breast cancer … are often referred … for colorectal cancer screening, and the question that often comes up in the community is whether these patients should be screened more often than patients who do not have breast cancer, and at what age the screening should be undertaken, Gerson said in a video abstract. We know from reviewing the literature that the prevalence of colorectal cancer in these patients has been around 1%, and so the goal of our study was to try to determine if the prevalence in breast cancer patients was higher than has been reported in the past.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and they actually have a great survival, so we need to really make sure that the recommendations for surveillance of secondary cancers is appropriate,Jennifer H. Lai, MD, of California Pacific Medical Center, added in the video abstract.
Can Some Patients With Breast Cancer Be Spared Chemotherapy
Some patients with postmenopausal breast cancer can avoid adjuvant chemotherapy The study results mean that thousands of women canbe spared the physical and financial toxicities of chemotherapy. In addition, the results provide more guidance to physicians as to which patients still need to receive chemotherapy, says the studys lead author
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What Happens If You Have Cancer On Your Liver
If your cancer has spread to your liver, you might experience stomach pain, bloating, have a swollen belly or feel full , even if you havent recently eaten. You might also experience a loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting or jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin. Brain. Breast cancer that spreads to your brain can cause a variety
Breast Cancer Metastasis To The Colon And Rectum: Review Of Current Status On Diagnosis And Management
Murad Bani Hani, Bashir Attuwaybi, Bryan Butler Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Colon and Rectum: Review of Current Status on Diagnosis and Management. Int Surg 1 November 2019 104 : 508513. doi:
Approximately 5% to 10% of patients will harbor distant metastasis at the time of breast cancer diagnosis, with about a third of these patients developing distant recurrence after optimal therapy. Breast cancer has an unusual metastatic pattern to the colon and rectum with incidence that may be underappreciated. Lobular breast cancer has a higher preponderance to this unusual metastatic pattern. Clinical manifestation is nonspecific with a long latency period, and diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion. The management is not clearly defined. However, medical management with chemo and hormonal therapy seem to be favored, likely because of overall metastatic burden at time of diagnosis. Radical colonic resection in selected patients with isolated colorectal metastasis has been well tolerated and may influence survival. A regimented screening colonoscopy in breast cancer patients with high-risk features may offer early diagnosis and management.
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How Do You Recognize An Inherited Or Family Cancer Syndrome
Certain things make it more likely that cancers in a family are caused by a family cancer syndrome, such as:
- Many cases of the same type of cancer
- Cancers occurring at younger ages than usual
- More than one type of cancer in a single person
- Cancers occurring in both of a pair of organs
- More than one childhood cancer in siblings
- Cancer occurring in the sex not usually affected
- Cancer occurring in many generations
When trying to determine if cancer might run in your family, first collect some information. For each case of cancer, look at:
- Who has the cancer? How are you related? Which side of the family are they on ?
- What type of cancer is it? Is it rare?
- How old was this relative when they were diagnosed?
- Did this person get more than one type of cancer?
- Did they have any known risk factors for their type of cancer ?
- Has anyone in the family with or without cancer had genetic testing, and did that testing show any abnormal genes?
Cancer in a close relative, like a parent or sibling , is more likely to be a cause for concern for you than cancer in a more distant relative. Even if the cancer in a distant relative was from a gene mutation, the chance of the abnormal gene being passed on to you is less likely than with a closer relative.
Likewise, more than one case of the same rare cancer is more worrisome than cases of a more common cancer. For some rare cancers, the risk of a family cancer syndrome is relatively high with even one case.
How Certain Foods And Beverages Are Linked To Cancer
Substances known as carcinogens have been scientifically proven to cause or contribute to the development of cancer.
Carcinogens can be found in our environment, in chemicals and substances we come in contact with, and are found in the food and drinks we consume.
Certain foods like red meat and processed meats are considered carcinogenic. Additionally, sugary drinks have been indirectly linked to cancer because they contribute to weight gain, which is a risk factor for the condition.
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Having Type 2 Diabetes
People with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Both type 2 diabetes and colorectal cancer share some of the same risk factors . But even after taking these factors into account, people with type 2 diabetes still have an increased risk. They also tend to have a less favorable prognosis after diagnosis.
How To Lower Your Risk For Cancer Linked To Alcohol Use
While alcohol is directly linked to the development of certain cancers, it’s not a guarantee that you will develop the condition.
However, the best way of lowering your risk of cancer linked to alcohol consumption is to abide by Canada’s low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines.
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Can I Lower My Risk Of Getting A Second Cancer
There’s no sure way to prevent all cancers, but there are steps you can take to lower your risk and stay as healthy as possible. Getting the recommended early detection tests, as mentioned above, is one way to do this.
Its also important to stay away from tobacco products. Smoking increases the risk of many cancers, including some of the second cancers that are more likely after breast cancer.
To help maintain good health, breast cancer survivors should also follow the ACS Guidelines on Diet and Physical Activity for Cancer Prevention:
- Get to and stay at a healthy weight.
- Keep physically active and limit the time you spend sitting or lying down.
- Follow a healthy eating pattern that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and limits or avoids red and processed meats, sugary drinks, and highly processed foods.
- It’s best not to drink alcohol. Women who drink should have no more than 1 drink per day.
These steps may also lower the risk of some other health problems.
See Second Cancers in Adults for more information about causes of second cancers.
How Does Breast Cancer Spreads And Recur
Breastcancerspread to the lymph nodes. The time period between removal of the primary tumor and subsequent recurrence of disease is referred to as metastatic dormancy. In melanomas, a period of dormancy may end with the emergence of recurrent disease at a metastatic site and only rarely at the site of the primary tumor.
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