Cancer of the colon and rectum is commonly referred to as colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. About 130,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year. Nearly 60,000 people will die from colorectal cancer. At the present time about one in every 17 people in the United States will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime. Fortunately, with today’s knowledge and technical expertise, we can prevent most of these cancers from ever occurring.

What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer refers to malignant growths that occur in the colon and the rectum. The colon is sometimes referred to as the large bowel or large intestine and is that part of the digestive tract that absorbs water from the food that is eaten but can’t digest. This results in waste that is eliminated from the body as stool or feces. The rectum is at the very end of the colon where waste is stored until it is passed as a bowel movement or stool. Together the colon and rectum make up the lower digestive tract.

How does colorectal cancer start?
Most colorectal cancers start out as small benign growths that are known as polyps. There are a number of different types of polyps but those associated with colorectal cancers are known as adenomas. Adenomas grow very slowly. Not all adenomas turn into cancer but they do have the potential to do so. It usually takes from 5 to 10 years for a polyp/adenoma to turn into a cancer. Because of this slow process of change, there is a long window of opportunity for doctors to find polyps and remove them before they become cancers. This is why colorectal cancer is the cancer that no one needs to have. By finding polyps and removing them, colorectal cancer can actually be prevented in many cases.

Who is at risk of colorectal cancer?
The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age. For most people, this risk starts to increase rapidly beginning at age 50. This is the recommended age to begin colorectal cancer screening. Screening refers to testing that is done on people who have no symptoms of colorectal cancer and no risk factors other than age.

Some people have a higher risk of developing colorectal cancer. Some people are at risk of developing colorectal cancer at younger than age 50. People with a family history of colorectal cancer or adenomas, a personal history of adenomas or colorectal cancer and those with a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease) should consult their physician as to what steps they should take to help prevent colorectal cancer.

What is colorectal cancer screening?
Screening refers to a number of tests that can be used to find polyps and remove them before they become cancers or to find cancers while they are very early and treatable for cure. Tests used for screening include looking for hidden blood in the stool (fecal occult blood test or FOBT), flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy and barium enemas. For more details regarding recommended screening tests, please go to
The American Cancer Society.

What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
Not all colorectal cancers will cause symptoms. In fact many cancers will not cause symptoms until they are far advanced. That is why it is so important to undergo screening examinations to find cancers that are early and curable and to remove polyps before a cancer develops. Most polyps have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms that may develop include a change in bowel habits (either diarrhea or constipation). Blood in the stool, anemia and abdominal cramping or bloating may also signal a colorectal cancer. However none of these symptoms are unique to colorectal cancer. Colitis, hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome are just a few things that can also cause some of these symptoms. Anyone who experiences such symptoms should see their physician to find out what the cause is and rule out the possibility of colorectal cancer. Further information regarding intestinal symptoms can be found at
The American Gastroenterological Association.

How is colorectal cancer treated?
Most colorectal cancers will require surgery of some type. Information regarding surgery for colorectal cancer may be found at www.fascrs.org. In addition, some patients with colon cancer might benefit from chemotherapy and some patients with rectal cancer might benefit from a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The American Cancer Society has additional information regarding the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Many people with colorectal cancer have an interest in doing all they can to treat their cancer. This may include the use of alternative and complementary therapies. Excellent information about such alternatives is available at www.nccam.nih.gov. However there are many claims regarding cancer therapy that are fraudulent and actually dangerous. Sometimes, these claims make it very difficult for patients to understand what is potentially helpful and what is not. Help in understanding these complex issues is available at Quackwatch.

What can you do?
December is National Rectal and Colon Cancer Education and Awareness Month. You can do your part by learning about colorectal cancer and sharing your knowledge with your friends and family and encouraging them to undergo screening. You should be sure to ask your physician about colorectal cancer screening for yourself. If you are age 50 or over, get screened. If you have any symptoms related to colorectal cancer, see your doctor immediately and be checked to be sure that colorectal cancer is not the cause.