According to the Mayo Clinic, colon cancer is a cancer of the large intestines, which is the lower part of the digestive system. Many cases of colon cancer start out as small noncancerous clusters of cells, which are termed adenomatous polyps. According to the Mayo Clinic, some of these polyps become colon cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that colorectal cancer is the third most common non-skin cancer in men and women. The rate of new cases and deaths in the United States caused by colorectal cancer has decreased, but there are more than 145,000 new cases and 49,000 deaths for the past five years, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Anemia
According to Medline Plus, anemia is a complication of colon cancer. It further describes anemia as the state where the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. These red blood cells are responsible for providing oxygen and nutrients to the body tissues. Medline Plus also says that a deficiency of oxygen in the body can cause unusual fatigue and jaundice--yellowing of the skin and eyes--shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness and headaches. Anemia can lead to complications such as heart problems, nerve damage, decreased mental capabilities and even death.
Uterine Cancer
According to the Atlas Genetics Oncology website, women who have a family history of colon cancer have about a 40 percent risk for developing cancer of the uterus as compared to other women. This risk is due to the inheritance of the hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma gene in families. Atlas Genetics Oncology states that a person who has inherited such a gene has a 75 percent risk of developing colon cancer, while a woman who has inherited the gene has a 40 percent risk of developing uterine cancer
Metastasis
According to Medline Plus, metastasis can be a complication of colon cancer. Metastasis is the spread of the cancer to other parts of the body. The cancer cells spread from the primary location to a distant location. In the case where a patient has colon cancer, it can spread and affect other organs in the body. Uterine cancer is an inherited primary cancer that develops due to the inherited hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal carcinoma gene and not due to metastasis from colon cancer.
Liver Metastasis
For colon cancer, the National Cancer Institute states that the common site for metastasis is the liver. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are three primary options for treatment--surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. There is also the targeted drug therapy. However, not all people are helped with this method.
