Understanding Colorectal Cancer in Seniors

Caring for someone with colorectal cancer requires patience, care, and time. When seniors face any form of cancer, the news can be devastating. Building a strong support team, including home care assistance services, is important to help them deal with added treatments, medications, and the emotions they will endure.

Continue reading to learn more about colorectal cancer and how loved ones can help.

Signs of Colorectal Cancer

Noticing blood when using the bathroom: Blood in the stool or on the toilet paper that can’t be explained can be a sign of colon cancer. If this condition lasts or comes back, it should be looked into more.

Changes in bowel habits: Seniors shouldn’t ignore changes in bowel habits, especially if they become consistent. Issues with diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that you haven’t gone to the bathroom enough are all things to pay attention to.

Pain or soreness in the abdomen: Frequent pain, cramps, or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen that lasts for a long time should be checked out.

Unintentional weight loss: If seniors lose weight without making any changes to their diet or level of physical exercise, it could be a sign of a health problem, like colorectal cancer.

Fatigue and weakness: It’s important to pay attention to persistent tiredness, weakness, or a general lack of energy that can’t be explained by anything else.

Iron deficiency anemia: Colorectal cancer can cause steady blood loss, leading to anemia. Some of the signs of this disease are tiredness, pale skin, and lack of breath.

Family history: People with a history of colorectal cancer in their family or certain genetic conditions, like Lynch syndrome, may be at a higher risk and should be aware of possible signs.

Treatment Options For Colorectal Cancer

Treatment for colorectal cancer is determined by the state of the disease, among other things. If seniors are faced with this issue, it’s important for loved ones and their home care assistance team to understand the treatment plan.

Surgery: The first step is usually surgery to remove the cancerous growth and any close lymph nodes. In some cases, laparoscopy or minimally invasive surgery may be used.

Chemotherapy: If there are still cancer cells after surgery, chemotherapy may be suggested to kill them and lower the risk of cancer returning.

Radiation therapy: It can be used with surgery and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells or relieve symptoms.

Targeted therapies: When certain DNA mutations are present, drugs can be used to stop cancer cells from growing and spreading.

Support For Seniors Is Vital

It is essential to support seniors when they are dealing with this issue. It is common for their emotions to rise and fall, necessitating patience, care, and support from everyone around them.

Home Care Assistance High Springs FL – Understanding Colorectal Cancer in Seniors

Some tips to help them through this time are listed below:

• Encourage open dialogue.
• Listening and understanding can bring a lot of peace.
• Help with medical appointments.
• Help with daily tasks so they can focus on recovery.
• Offer encouragement and positive feedback.
• Encourage self-care.
• Become educated about colorectal cancer.

Remember that everyone’s experience with colorectal cancer is different, and each person may have different needs. Developing a strong support system for seniors as they go through treatment and recovery is essential. This includes adding home care assistance team so they obtain consistent care.

Source: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669#:~:text=Colon%20cancer%20typically%20affects%20older,polyps%20can%20become%20colon%20cancers.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3742312/
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer.html

If you are considering Home Care Assistance Services in High Springs FL, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts Home Care. Call today: 352-225-3727.