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What is colorectal cancer
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• Colorectal cancer is a cancer that affects the
colon and/or rectum, which are both part of the large intestine. This is where food
is processed and waste is stored before being removed from the
body.
• Colorectal cancer usually starts as a non-cancerous growth called a polyp that
forms on the lining of the colon or rectum. Even though polyps are not cancerous,
they can eventually develop into cancer if they are not removed.
• The most common type of colorectal cancer is called adenocarcinoma.
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Signs and symptoms of Colorectal
Cancer |
Symptoms for colorectal cancer include:
• Blood in the stool (sometimes invisible to the naked eye) or rectal bleeding.
• Changes in bowel habits – diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stools.
• Abdominal pain or bloating that doesn't go away.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Unexplained anemia.
• Weakness and fatigue.
• Have a constant urge to have a bowel movement even after one has occurred.
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What are the risk factors for
Colorectal cancer? |
Factors that increase the risk of developing colorectal
cancer include:
• Age. Colorectal cancer can
occur at any age, but if you are 50 years or older,
your chances of getting colorectal cancer increase.
• Personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps especially if the
first diagnosis is made when you were age 60 or younger.
• Family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, including the various polyposis
syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis, Gardner’s syndrome or Peutz-Jeghers
Syndrome. If you have a parent, child, or sibling with colorectal cancer or a history
of polyps, your risk for colorectal cancer increases.
• Personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or
Crohn's Disease.
• Personal history of ovarian, breast or endometrial cancer.
• Diet high in red meat.
• Diet low in fruits, vegetables, folate, and calcium.
• Physical inactivity.
• Obesity.
• Alcohol.
• Smoking.
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How can I reduce my risk of developing
colorectal cancer? |
•Start getting screening tests for colorectal cancer at age 50 (or earlier if you
have a family history of colorectal cancer or if you have inflammatory bowel disease).
• Do at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Consume no more than 2 – 3 servings of red meat a week.
• Take a multivitamin that contains essential folic acid.
• Have no more than 1 alcoholic drink a day.
• Eat 5 or more servings of fruits
and vegetables a day.
• Don’t smoke.
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How is colorectal cancer diagnosed? |
If the health care professional suspected colorectal cancer, there will be a medical
history evaluation and a physical exam done. The tests found in screening will be
used to help detect the colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is often first suspected when a person experiences symptoms or
when an abnormal result is found on a screening test. In either situation, the person
will need to be further evaluated by a colonoscopy. A biopsy (removing a piece of
abnormal tissue and examining it under a microscope) is required to confirm the
diagnosis of colorectal cancer.
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How is colorectal cancer
treated?
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Surgery is the primary treatment for colorectal cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation
may also be used depending on the stage of the disease. Patients with rectal cancer
may be treated with radiation and/or chemotherapy before having surgery. A colostomy
(wearing a bag outside the body to collect stools) is usually not a permanent outcome
of the surgery, but this depends on the location and extent of the cancer. There
are newer therapies that use monoclonal antibodies that specifically target the
cancer cells.
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