Get answers to frequently asked questions about colorectal cancer
What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or
rectum. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body.
What causes colorectal cancer?
The cause of most colon andrectal cancers is not known. Nearly 75% of colorectal
cancers diagnoses happen in people without known risk factors.
Who is at risk for colorectal cancer?
There are some conditions that may increase a person's risk of developing colorectal
cancer. Learn more
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer?
People with polyps or colon or rectal cancer don't always have symptoms, especially
at the early stages. When there are symptoms, they may include:
- Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement)
- Pains, aches, or cramps in your stomach that don't go away
- Losing weight without know why
- Change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
Is there anything I can do to reduce my risk for
colorectal cancer?
Having regular screening tests for colorectal cancer beginning at age 50 helps increase
the chance of finding the disease at an earlier stage. Also, studies have shown
that increased physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can decrease the
risk for colorectal cancer.
Should I get screened for colorectal cancer?
Screening for colon and rectal cancer can help save lives. Colorectal
cancers almost always develop from precancerous polyps. Screening tests can find
polyps which can be removed before they turn cancerous. Screening tests can also
find colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best and the chance for a full
recovery is very high.
How is colorectal cancer treated?
There are many treatment options for colorectal cancer depending on the stage it’s
in. Surgery,
radiation,
chemotherapy and
immunotherapy are some of the options used.
What does staging for colorectal cancer mean?
When someone is diagnosed with colorectal cancer, doctors need to find how advanced
the disease is, or how far it has spread. This is known as
staging. Staging gives doctors the information they need to develop a treatment
plan.
Are there clinical trials for colorectal cancer?
Clinical trials are key to finding
new treatments for colorectal cancer. Clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness
of new drugs or medical procedure and they help doctors determine if existing treatments
can be used in different ways or for other diseases.
Watch videos about colorectal cancer and its treatment