Colon cancer markers are substances that are usually found in the individual’s body when the disease is formed.

Such markers can be created by the cancerous tumor itself, but they can also be formed because of the body natural reaction and protection against the cancer. Colon cancer markers can be seen and detected in analyzes and medical tests, such as blood or stool tests, but they can also be found after testing a piece of the cancerous tumor. However, you must know that there are different markers in different types of cancers and they can vary a lot from one case to another.

However, the presence of tumor markers can not be only made by a cancer development. Sometimes healthy cells form such markers, as well as they can be formed by other diseases development. Anyway, another element regarding this that you must know is that not all patients that have a cancer type will also experience markers.

However, in the last years a great accent was focused in the screening interventions that can detect colon cancer right after forming, when it is very easy to cure it. In a screening test the oncologist can see inside the body of a patient by using different means. In a colonoscopy for example, a tub that has attached a camera connected to a monitor is introduced in the colon.

This way the doctor can check out for any abnormal growths that might have been formed and he can take biopsy samples if he considerers that there are threats that should be tested. After this, he can say for sure if there is colon cancer formed or not. In other to establish the exact stage of the cancer and if it has spread, there are other special medical interventions that must be done.

However, besides diagnosis and detection, colon cancer markers can also indicate if the treatment administrated with the purpose to cure cancer is working or not. So, if the tumor marker level in the blood goes down the treatment is working well, but if they go up, that certain treatment is not good and it must be changed because it will not defeat the caner tumors.

When it comes to treatment, you must know that there is not a single intervention that is recommended in all colon cancer cases. Treatment is usually adapted to every patient’s own particularities and health. Tumor markers can also be used to see if a cancer that has already been cured has recurrences.

On this matter, you must know that colon cancer can develop secondary tumors after the primary one has been cured. You can not consider yourself cured of colon cancer until it does not pass at least five years after your treatment. Doctors usually consider that the ones that manage to pass this period of time are free of cancer.