Colorectal Cancer

Risk factors are traits that put people at greater risk of developing cancer. Most people who develop colorectal cancer have no known risk factors. But some traits do increase the likelihood of developing the disease:

• Age: People over age 50 are more at risk.
• Gender: Women are at greater risk of developing colon cancer, while men are more likely to develop rectal cancer.
• Polyps: A type of polyp known as adenoma is considered a precursor of colorectal cancer.
• Medical & Family History: Women with a history of ovarian, uterine or breast cancer, previous colorectal cancer patients, people with chronic inflammatory conditions of the colon (ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease), and those with a family history of colorectal cancer have an increased risk.
• Diet: A high-fat, high-calorie and low-fiber diet may be linked to a greater risk.
• Lifestyle: Smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of exercise and excess weight may be contributing factors.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are at a 30 to 40 percent higher risk of developing colorectal cancer.
• Ethnicity: Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi) have a higher rate of colon cancer.

Colorectal cancers occur when cells lining the colon or the rectum become abnormal and grow out of control. Screening for colorectal cancer is important because the early stages of the disease, when it's most curable, do not cause symptoms. It is recommended that all patients over the age of 45 get screened for colon cancer.

Symptoms for colorectal cancer include:

• A change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of stool) that lasts beyond a few days
• Continuously feeling the need to move one’s bowels, even after doing so
• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• Abdominal pain
• Weakness and tiredness

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Most colorectal cancers are malignancies of the cells that line the interior of the colon and rectum. If tests indicate the presence of colorectal cancer, additional examinations are performed to determine the extent or stage of the disease:

• Imaging Tests
• Biopsy
• Blood Tests
• Angiography

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Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy are the primary ways to treat colorectal cancer. Targeted therapies known as monoclonal antibodies also are used along with chemotherapy. Patients may undergo one or more types of treatment, depending on the stage of the disease. Patients who qualify also have access to a variety of clinical trials.

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