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