Colorectal Cancer - Information on Colon and Rectal Cancers
Defining Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. With 655,000 deaths worldwide per year, it is the third most common form of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the Western world.
Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon and rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States (after lung cancer). According to the American Cancer Society, almost 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed and approximately 50,000 people died from the disease last year.
Definition of colon cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the colon (the longest part of the large intestine). Most colon cancers are adenocarcinomas (cancers that begin in cells that make and release mucus and other fluids).
Definition of rectal cancer: Cancer that forms in the tissues of the rectum (the last several inches of the large intestine closest to the anus).
The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. Men and women aged 50 and older are at an increased risk for developing colorectal cancer, and should be screened at least every 5-10 years. Some people are at a higher risk and should be screened at an age younger than 50, including those with a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer or polyps.
The comparison of colorectal cancer incidence in various countries strongly suggests that sedentarity, overeating (i.e., high caloric intake), and perhaps a diet high in meat (red or processed) could increase the risk of colorectal cancer. In contrast, a healthy body weight, physical fitness, and good nutrition decreases cancer risk in general. Accordingly, lifestyle changes could decrease the risk of colorectal cancer as much as 60-80%.
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
Most colorectal cancers begin as a polyp, which is a tissue growth that starts in the lining of the colon or rectum. Identifying and removing a polyp early in its development may prevent it from becoming cancerous.
Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms until the disease has progressed beyond its earliest stages. Some potential signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer to watch for and ask your physician about include:
The first symptoms of colon cancer are usually vague, like bleeding, weight loss, and fatigue (tiredness). Local (bowel) symptoms are rare until the tumor has grown to a large size. Generally, the nearer the tumor is to the anus, the more bowel symptoms there will be.
Cramping or stomach pain
A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that doesn't go away after doing so
Rectal bleeding, dark stools, or blood in the stool
Weakness and tiredness
A change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
The treatment depends on the staging of the cancer.
When colorectal cancer is caught at early stages (with little spread) it can be curable. However when it is detected at later stages (when distant metastases are present) it is less likely to be curable.
Surgery remains the primary treatment while chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may be recommended depending on the individual patient's staging and other medical factors.
Some cancers, if caught very early, can be treated with colonoscopy and without the need for surgery. Newer more advanced minimally invasive techniques, such as laparoscopic or endoscopic resections, allow more patients to undergo curative surgery without the need for lengthy hospital stays or a stoma ("bag"). With these techniques, pain is considerably less and patients are able to return to work and their daily activities in significantly less time than with standard operations.
Smokers are more likely to die of colorectal cancer than non-smokers. An American Cancer Society study found that Women who smoked were more than 40% more likely to die from colorectal cancer than women who never had smoked. Male smokers had more than a 30% increase in risk of dying from the disease compared to men who never had smoked.
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