Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)
Colorectal Cancer
Colon cancer is largely preventable if individuals undergo regular colon screening. Colorectal cancer occurs when cells in the colon or rectum become abnormal and reproduce uncontrollably. The abnormal growth forms a tumor, which is the cancer.
Most colorectal cancer begins as a polyp and usually grows slowly over years. Removing a polyp usually prevents it from becoming cancer.
This page contains the following information about colorectal cancer:
- Facts About Colorectal Cancer
- Risk Factors
- Reducing the Risk
- Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
- Imaging Exams for Detecting Colorectal Cancer
- Additional Information
Facts About Colorectal Cancer
Following are some facts about colorectal cancer:
- According to the American Cancer Society, there were approximately 147,000 new cases of colorectal cancer in the United States in 2004, and an estimated 56,730 deaths from it.
- Other than skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in the United States.
- Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the United States. (Lung cancer is the first.)
- A large portion of colon cancer deaths are preventable if individuals undergo regular colon screening. Only 20-30% of adults are appropriately screened.
- 70% of colon cancer patients do not have a family history of colon cancer.
- People of all ethnic backgrounds are susceptible to colorectal cancer.
Lifetime Risks for Colorectal Cancer
The following chart illustrates the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC) and dying from colorectal cancer for men and women in the United States.
| Developing CRC | Dying from CRC | |
| Men | 1 in 17 (6%) | 1 in 42 (2.4%) |
| Women | 1 in 18 (5.7%) | 1 in 43 (2.3%) |
Risk Factors
Everyone is at risk of developing colorectal cancer. It occurs in about 2% of the population. The majority of people who develop the disease have no known risk factors.
Please use the following table as a guide for assessing risk. Additional information can be found in the American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer, 2005.
Following are some other risk factors to consider in addition to those listed in the above table:
- Overweight
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Diet high in red meat (more than one serving per day) and/or low in vegetables (less than three servings per day)
- Over-consumption of alcohol
- Diabetes
- Cigarette smoking
While this may provide some guideline for colon care, please consult your physician regarding your individual risk.
Reducing the Risk
While you can’t control certain risk factors for colorectal cancer, such as your age and family history, there are ways you can reduce your risk:
- Get screened regularly beginning at age 50 (if you are at high risk for colorectal cancer, you may need to start earlier)
- Eat a low-fat, high-fiber diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Stop smoking
- Exercise regularly
- Limit alcohol consumption
- Reduce intake of red meats
- Take aspirin regularly (discuss this with your physician first)
- Take calcium supplements regularly (discuss this with your physician first)
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
Many people have no symptoms during the early stages of colorectal cancer. For people who do experience symptoms, they can vary, depending on the size and location of the cancer.
If any of the following symptoms continues for more than two weeks, see your doctor:
- Change in bowel habits, including constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the consistency of your stool
- Narrow, pencil-thin stool
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool on multiple occasions
- Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as gas, cramps or pain
- A feeling that your bowel doesn’t empty completely
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- Chronic fatigue
These symptoms or changes may occur with other health problems also, such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, diverticulosis, and diverticulitis. If you experience any of these symptoms for a prolonged period, see your primary care physician to determine the cause.
Imaging Exams for Detecting Colorectal Cancer
Polyps often don’t produce any symptoms. Consequently, it’s important to be appropriately screened for colorectal cancer so any polyps and abnormalities can be caught early when they are most treatable.
Colonoscopies have been the gold standard in colorectal cancer screening. Invision Sally Jobe offers a CT colonography , or virtual colonoscopy, which uses a CT scanner to examine the colon for polyps in a less invasive way than a traditional colonoscopy. With this exam, a tube is inserted only 3-4 inches into the body and no sedation is required. Virtual colonoscopies have proven to be very effective, detecting 95-100% of colorectal cancers and 90-100% of colon polyps.
Additional Information
The information on this page was taken in part from some of the following web sites. Visit these sites for additional information on colorectal cancer.
