Colorectal cancer is
the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
However, the number of new cases of colorectal cancer, and the
number of deaths due to colorectal cancer, have decreased, which
is attributed to increased sigmoidoscopic screening and polyp
removal.
Symptoms:
The following are the
most common symptoms for colorectal cancer, however, each individual
may experience symptoms differently.
People who have any
of the following symptoms should check with their physicians,
especially if they are over 40 years old or have a personal or
family history of the disease:
- a change in bowel
habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool
that lasts for more than a few days
- bright red or very
dark rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
- cramping or gnawing
stomach pain
- decreased appetite
- vomiting
- weakness and fatigue
- jaundice (yellowish
coloring) of the skin or sclera of the eye
- unexplained weight
loss
The symptoms of colorectal
cancer may resemble other conditions, such as infections, hemorrhoids,
and inflammatory bowel disease. It is important to talk to the
physician since finding colorectal cancer early makes successful
treatment more likely.
It is also possible
to have colon cancer and not have any symptoms.
Treatment:
Surgery
is the most common form of treatment for colorectal cancers. The
surgeon will remove the tumor along with part of the healthy colon
and lymph nodes to perform biopsies.
Chemotherapy
and radiation therapy are often used
in conjunction with surgery to treat
colorectal cancers.
In addition, at the
Multidisciplinary Gastrointestinal Oncology Center, there are
several clinical trials available to
colorectal cancer patients.
