Symptoms and Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related deaths
for both men and women, and it’s one of the most common cancers
in men. Screenings, early diagnoses and specialized treatment can help
save lives.
At Altru Cancer Center, our staff is skilled at identifying symptoms and
treatment options for colorectal cancer in men and women. Our providers
and staff offer guidance, support and treatment for each patient’s
individual needs. We also provide spiritual and emotional guidance through
the difficult process of cancer treatment to help patients and families
feel supported throughout their day-to-day lives.
Altru Cancer Center providers also have access to experts at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic through the
Mayo Clinic Care Network, giving you access to advanced cancer treatments and, in some cases, eliminating
the need for you to travel far from home for colorectal cancer treatment.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer occurs in part of the large intestine when tumors form
in the intestinal lining. It is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers
in the United States for men and women.
Most types of colorectal cancer begin as polyps in the lining of the colon
or rectum. Not all polyps are cancerous, but some types of polyps may
become cancer.
Risk Factors of Colorectal Cancer
For both men and women, the risk of colorectal cancer increases with age.
About 9 out of 10 cases of colorectal cancer occur in people over age
50, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Other risk factors include:
Alcohol use
Tobacco use
Family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
Inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
Lack of physical activity
Overweight or obesity
Unhealthy diets, especially diets low in fiber, fruits and vegetables and/or
high in fat and processed meats
Some genetic disorders, such as familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary
non-polyposis colorectal cancer/Lynch syndrome
Colorectal Cancer Prevention
The most effective way to reduce your colorectal cancer risk is to exercise
regularly, eat a healthy diet and have regular screenings. Colorectal
cancer screenings can find polyps in the colon or rectum. Polyps can take
as many as 15 years to develop into cancer, so screenings allow your provider
to remove polyps before they become cancerous. Colorectal cancer screenings
may also find colorectal cancer while it is at earlier, more treatable stages.
Colonoscopies are the best option for colorectal cancer screenings.
Patients with an average risk of colorectal cancer should begin screenings
at age 45. To schedule a screening colonoscopy, call
701.780.6533 or use
MyChart.
Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer symptoms in men and women may include:
Blood in the stool
Diarrhea or constipation
Stomach pains or cramps that don’t get better
Weight loss with no known cause
Sometimes, colorectal cancer does not appear with symptoms. That is one
of the reasons why regular cancer screenings are vital.
Colorectal Cancer Types
The most common type of colorectal cancer is adenocarcinomas, which begin
in the cells that make mucus. These are about 96% of all colorectal cancer
cases, although there are other, rarer types of colorectal cancer, such
as gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors, lymphomas or sarcomas.
Diagnosing Colorectal Cancer
If you have colorectal cancer symptoms or your provider finds something
abnormal during your screening, your provider may perform a physical exam
and ask you about your medical history.
He or she may also perform one or more of the following tests:
Blood tests, which may look for liver enzymes, red blood cell counts or tumor markers
that may be found in your blood
Diagnostic colonoscopies, which are similar to screening colonoscopies but performed because your
provider suspects colorectal cancer
Imaging tests, such as ultrasounds, CT or MRI scans
Biopsy, in which your provider removes a small tissue sample and uses it to diagnose cancer
Treatment for Colorectal Cancer
The treatment required for colorectal cancer will depend on the stage of
cancer, but some common treatment methods include:
Surgery to remove any polyps that weren’t removed during the colonoscopy
or to remove a portion of the colon
Chemotherapy, which uses drugs to kill cancer cells
Immunotherapy, which uses a patient’s own immune system to fight the cancer
Radiation therapy, which uses high-dose radiation to destroy cancer cells
Targeted therapy, which stops the cell changes that cause colorectal cancer
Side effects and complications will differ depending on the type of treatment
you require. Colorectal cancer is highly treatable when found early. Regular
screenings can save your life.
Our oncology experts can help you navigate colorectal cancer screening,
treatment and survivorship. Call
701.780.5400 to speak with a member of our team.
