Is colorectal cancer contagious?

Is colorectal cancer contagious? The occurrence of colorectal cancer is related to many factors, including colon cancer and rectal cancer. It is one of the common malignant tumors. The age of onset tends to be older, and the incidence rate in men is higher than that in women. The harm caused by this disease is very great, so many people worry that it will be contagious. So, is colorectal cancer contagious?

First of all, I can tell you for sure that colorectal cancer is not contagious. The occurrence of colorectal cancer is related to a high-fat, low-fiber diet, chronic colon inflammation, colorectal adenoma, genetic factors and other factors such as schistosomiasis, pelvic radiation, environmental factors (such as molybdenum deficiency in the soil), smoking, etc.

In the early stage of colorectal cancer, there are no symptoms or the symptoms are not obvious, only discomfort, indigestion, occult blood in stool, etc. As the cancer develops, symptoms gradually appear, manifested as changes in bowel habits, abdominal pain, blood in stool, abdominal mass, intestinal obstruction, etc., with or without systemic symptoms such as anemia, fever and weight loss. Tumor metastasis and infiltration can cause changes in the affected organs. Colorectal cancer shows different clinical symptoms and signs due to different locations of occurrence.

The most common form of infiltration of colorectal cancer is local invasion, where the tumor invades surrounding tissues or organs, causing corresponding clinical symptoms. Anal incontinence and persistent pain in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral region are caused by rectal cancer invading the sacral plexus. Tumor cells implant and metastasize to the abdominal and pelvic cavity, forming corresponding symptoms and signs. Rectal examination can palpate masses in the bladder-rectal fossa or uterine-rectal fossa. The tumor is widely implanted and metastasized in the abdominal and pelvic cavity, forming peritoneal effusion.

It should be noted that the risk of colorectal cancer increases significantly after the age of 40. According to statistics, about 75% of colorectal cancer patients are in this age group. Therefore, people should do a fecal occult blood test once a year from the age of 40 to be alert to bleeding caused by polyps or tumors.