Ren yu Zhang, MD

Colon Cancer Specialist

Board-Certified Colorectal Surgeon located in Las Vegas, NV

Colon Cancer services offered in Las Vegas, NV

Colorectal cancer is a common cancer, affecting one in 23 men and one in 25 women. If you experience rectal bleeding or changes in bowel patterns, visit the office of Ren Yu Zhang, MD, in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a board-certified colorectal surgeon, Dr. Zhang offers colorectal cancer screening and individualized treatment. Schedule an appointment today by phone or online.

Colon Cancer Q & A

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer that occurs in your colon or rectum. Your colon is your large intestine, the final major organ of your digestive tract. The rectum is a pouch between the colon and anus, where feces collects until it’s expelled through the anus.

Colorectal cancer can affect people of all ages, but it is more common in older adults. It often begins as polyps – small precancerous growths inside your intestine. Colorectal cancer screening helps detect cancer before it becomes a severe problem.

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?

Common symptoms you can experience with colorectal cancer include:

  • Changes in bowel patterns
  • Changes in stool consistency
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Blood in your stool
  • Ongoing diarrhea or constipation
  • Abdominal pain
  • Cramps
  • Gas
  • Weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained weight loss

At the first sign of colon cancer, schedule a visit to the office of Ren Yu Zhang, MD, for an evaluation.

What are the risk factors for colorectal cancer?

Anyone can develop colon cancer, but some factors increase your risk of developing it. These things include:

  • Being over 50
  • Being African American
  • Having inflammatory intestinal conditions
  • Having a personal or family history of colorectal cancer
  • Eating a low-fiber diet
  • Having inherited syndromes
  • Being obese
  • Living a sedentary life
  • Having diabetes
  • Having undergone radiation therapy for cancer
  • Smoking
  • Heavy alcohol use

Healthy lifestyle habits and routine cancer screenings are excellent ways to lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer. Eat a variety of veggies, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, and other legumes. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight.

How does my doctor diagnose colorectal cancer?

To diagnose colorectal cancer, Dr. Zhang checks your vital signs and discusses your symptoms and medical history. He completes a physical exam and often recommends you undergo blood tests to detect or rule out specific medical problems.

He performs a colonoscopy using a thin, flexible scope to view the inside of your colon and rectum. If he finds suspicious growths (polyps), he can remove them and send them to a lab for analysis. If you have cancer, Dr. Zhang could suggest that you have imaging procedures, like a CT scan, to determine what stage your cancer is in.

What are colorectal cancer treatment options?

Common treatments for colorectal cancer include:

Surgery

Removing polyps and other cancerous tissues can get rid of cancer cells and prevent colorectal cancer from spreading to other parts of your body.

Chemotherapy 

Chemotherapy uses medications to destroy cancer cells. You can undergo chemotherapy in addition to surgical removal of cancerous tissue.

Radiation therapy 

Radiation therapy uses protons, X-rays, or other energy sources to kill cancer cells and shrink larger tumors before surgery.

Targeted drug therapy

Targeted drug treatments kill cancer cells. You might receive targeted drugs with chemotherapy if you have an advanced stage of colorectal cancer.

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is another drug treatment for colorectal cancer. It uses your body’s immune system to fight off and recover from cancer.

If you have colorectal cancer symptoms or are at risk of developing the disease, schedule a colon cancer screening at the office of Ren Yu Zhang, MD. Call today or book an appointment online.