| Colorectal cancer is a major health concern and public | | | | symptoms like mild abdominal pain, flatulence |
| health problem inmost of the Western countries | | | | ordiarrhea. Occasionally there might be microscopic |
| despite widespread use of screening techniqueto | | | | bleeding and the diagnosisof colorectal cancer would |
| detect early stages of this disease. In the United | | | | be suspected because of presence of anemia |
| States alone more than | | | | fromchronic bleeding. Some people might develop |
| 148,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer | | | | frank bleeding or symptoms ofbowel obstruction. |
| each year. Over 55,000deaths occur in the United | | | | Screening for colorectal cancer can detect the |
| States due to colorectal cancer. Colon cancer isa | | | | disease at an early stage. Arectal examination and |
| very common disease and it is the third most | | | | examination of the stool specimen for the presence |
| common type of cancer in bothsexes. In men it | | | | ofmicroscopic quantity of blood are very common |
| ranks third after prostate and lung cancer and in | | | | screening tools. Sigmoidocopyand colonoscopy are |
| womenafter lung and breast cancer. Colorectal cancer | | | | more invasive investigations, which can detect |
| ranks second after lungcancer in terms of number of | | | | andremove some polyps that might be precursors of |
| deaths from cancer. | | | | cancer. Less invasivetechniques like barium enema, |
| Majority of colorectal cancers (72%) start in the | | | | virtual colonoscopy using a CT scan machineare also |
| colon and smaller fraction | | | | often used in screening and diagnosis of colorectal |
| (28%) arises in the rectum. The lifetime risk of being | | | | cancer. Adultshaving an average risk of colorectal |
| diagnosed withcolorectal cancer in the United States | | | | cancer should start colorectal cancerscreening |
| is 5.9% for men and 5.5% for women. | | | | beginning at age 50. |
| There are several known risk factors for colorectal | | | | Treatment of colorectal cancer depends upon the |
| cancer. Being a maleposes higher risk of colorectal | | | | stage of the disease. Earlystages of colorectal |
| cancer compared to being female. Increasingage is | | | | cancers are treated with surgery alone, later stages |
| associated with an increase in the risk of colorectal | | | | ofcolorectal cancer are treated with surgery followed |
| cancer. | | | | by chemotherapy with orwithout radiation treatment. |
| Incidence of colorectal cancer is higher among African | | | | Rectal cancers are more often treated withradiation |
| Americans compared to | | | | therapy compared to colon cancer. Advanced stages |
| Caucasians. Risk of developing colorectal cancer is | | | | of colorectalcancer, where the disease has spread to |
| much higher for peopleliving in the industrialized | | | | other organs, are usually treatedwith chemotherapy |
| nations compared to less industrializednations. | | | | alone. There are several new chemotherapeutic |
| Diet, rich in fat and cholesterol, is linked to higher risk | | | | agents andbiological drugs available for the treatment |
| of developingcolorectal cancer. Lack of proper | | | | of colorectal cancer. Treatmentof colorectal cancer |
| exercise, presence of inflammatory boweldisease, | | | | has undergone marked changes in the last 10 years. |
| some types of polyps and history of family members | | | | Thenewer drugs are showing much improved |
| with diagnosisof colorectal cancer have been | | | | efficacy and prolonging lifeexpectancy in patients |
| associated with higher risk of development | | | | with advanced stage colorectal cancer. |
| ofcolorectal cancer. | | | | More daily updated medical information you may visit |
| Early stages of colorectal cancer may not cause any | | | | Medicineworld. |
| symptoms. Some peoplemight experience vague | | | | |