Sunday, April 20, 2008

Why do women with ovarian or uterine cancer have a higher risk of getting colon cancer

Why do women with ovarian or uterine cancer have a higher risk of getting colon cancer?
why?
Medicine - 2 Answers
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1 :
It is because of direct seeding. Since the organs are generally in direct contact with each other the tumor could come in contact with the colon and cancer cells could get to the colon directly through this contact. When surgery removes the tumor some of the cells that got transfered may get missed and may for a tumor in the colon
2 :
The ovaries, uterus and colon all reside within the peritoneal cavity in the abdomen (along with other organs like the kidneys and the liver) They share a common lymphatic drainage system (the pelvic an inguinal lymph nodes), as well as a common circulatory system (the mesenteric, iliac and hypogastric arterial and venous system). Additionally, they are in actual physical contact with each other. This means that there are multiple opportunities for the cancer to metastasize (spread from the orginal tumor site), either through direct seeding via organ to organ contact, or via the lymphatic and circulatory systems. Usually by the time such cancers are detected, there are already metastatic sites in the abdominal cavity, or multiple positive lymph nodes. The liver is also a site at high risk for metastatic uterine or ovarian cancer.

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