Colorectal cancer also called bowel cancer is any cancer that affects the colon and the rectum. The human colon has three main functions.

  • Digest and absorb the nutrients
  • Concentrate fecal material
  • Store and evacuate the fecal material

The American Cancer Society estimates that 1 in every 21 men and 1 in 23 women in the United States develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime. It is believed to be the second leading cause of cancer death in women and the third leading cause of death in men.

Colorectal cancer can be malignant, benign or non-cancerous. If you have colorectal cancer, you know it can take a toll on the quality of your life. It can lead to an unwanted hospital stay. But did you know home health palliative care can help?

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Some of the symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

  • Blood in feces
  • Changes in bowel habits
  • Bright red blood common from the rectum
  • Diarrhea or constipation
  • Feeling of fullness in the abdomen
  • Lump in the abdomen
  • Pain or bloating in the abdomen
  • Unexplained deficiency of iron

It is important to see a doctor if one or more symptoms persist for 4 weeks or more.

Risk Factors

Some of the possible risk factors include:

  • A diet high in animal protein
  • Older age
  • High alcohol consumption
  • A diet low in fiber
  • Overweight
  • High alcohol consumption
  • A family history of colorectal cancer
  • Smoking
  • Lack of physical exercise
  • Eating red or processed meats

While colorectal cancer tends to affect men and women equally, men tend to develop it at a younger age.

Palliative Care and Colorectal Cancer

Home health palliative care is specialized medical care provided to people living with a serious illness such as colorectal cancer. Palliative care focuses on helping the patient get relief from the symptoms and stress of the medical illness. The goal of home health palliative care services is to improve the life quality of the patient and his family.

The treatment options for colorectal cancer include:

  • Chemotherapy
  • Surgery
  • Radiation therapy

The treatments can cause pain and other symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, blockages in the intestine, and fatigue. Palliative care makes it easy for the patient to find relief and get his life back on track.

Along with treating the pain and symptom, the palliative care experts also make changes to the patient’s diet, nutrition and fluids to help prevent intestinal blockage and other symptoms. The professionals also work with your primary care providers to make sure the treatment plan matches your goals.

Palliative care helps the patient deal with post-treatment symptoms. It is common for patients to suffer from anxiety or depression following the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Get Palliative Care

If you are living with colorectal cancer, ask your doctor for a referral to palliative care at the earliest. With earlier referral to a palliative care program, patients may receive care that results in better management of symptoms, leading to stabilization of their condition and prolonged survival.

Inspiration Hospice offers affordable home health palliative care solutions. Call 800-593-1317 to learn more!