- Colorectal cancer is a malignant tumor arising from the inner wall of the large intestine (colon) or rectum.
- Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in both men and women in the U.S.
- Common risk factors for colorectal cancer include increasing age, a family history of colorectal cancer, colon polyps, and long-standing ulcerative colitis.
- Most colorectal cancers develop from polyps. Removal of colon polyps can aid in the prevention of colorectal cancer.
- Colon polyps and early cancer may have no early signs or symptoms. Therefore, regular colorectal cancer screening is important. Stool blood test or Fecal occult blood test-FOBT, sigmoidoscopy are common screening methods
- Diagnosis of colorectal cancer can be made by sigmoidoscopy or by colonoscopy, biopsy is done for confirmation of cancerous tissue.
- Treatment of colorectal cancer depends on the location, size, and extent of cancer spread, and the health of the patient. Surgery is the main method, then radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Surgery can be used alone with the early-stage cancer