Colorectal Cancer: All You Need to Know
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, so no better time to learn more about this disease, which is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States. The awareness color for colorectal cancer is blue.
Colorectal cancer occurs when cells in the colon or rectum grow abnormally, eventually leading to tumors or metastasis outside the colon if left untreated. But what, exactly, is the colon? And the rectum for that matter?
The colon is commonly referred to as the large intestine or the large bowel. Simply put, the function of the colon is to absorb the good things from the foods we eat and enable the waste to be eliminated from our body in the form of bowel movements, or, as children love to say, poop!
The average colon is approximately five feet (yes, 5’) in length. The rectum is the final six inches of the colon and leads directly to the anus, where bowel movements are eliminated from our bodies. The rectum is commonly called the passageway between the colon and the anus.
The American Cancer Society estimates that just over 153,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2023. About two thirds of those cases will be colon cancer and about one third of those cases will be rectal cancer. The lifetime risk of men being diagnosed with colorectal cancer is 1/23 and for women it is 1/26. The most vulnerable ethnic group to be impacted by colorectal cancers are Native Americans, followed closely by African Americans.
While those numbers sound serious, there have been some positive developments in the treatment and diagnosis of colorectal cancers. Annual rates of colorectal cancers have been trending down for decades. The death rate for colorectal cancers has been dropping for decades as well.
The biggest reason for those positive downward trends has everything to do with effective and widespread screening. Researchers have learned that almost all colorectal cancers originate with precancerous polyps that are commonly found in people’s colon and rectum. A polyp is a small abnormal growth. When these polyps are identified via screening, they can be easily removed before they turn into cancer.
The benefit of early detection for colorectal cancers is twofold: precancerous polyps can be identified and surgically removed from the body and, if cancer has developed, regular screening is more likely to find it, remove it, and treat it early, when treatment is most effective. It is estimated that roughly 70% of Americans over age 50 are up to date on their screenings for colorectal cancers.
Screening for colorectal cancers is recommended for all adults over the age of 45. There are different types of screening available, the most common one being a colonoscopy. Providing stool samples is another method. Depending on risk factors, some doctors recommend less frequent screenings after age 75 and eliminating screenings for older adults over age 85.
Dr. Srilata Gundala, owner and founder of Hope & Healing Cancer Services in Hinsdale, Illinois has seen the positive impact of screenings for colorectal cancers over the course of her career, “It’s really a testament to the power of educating patients about the benefits of preventative health care. When colorectal cancers are identified through routine screenings, the vast majority of those cancers are caught early, making treatment much more effective.” The survival rate of localized colorectal cancers is over 90%.
Screening has also become crucial to managing this disease, as most colorectal cancers do not present with symptoms. If symptoms do exist, they might only be felt after the disease has spread. Those symptoms to look out for include:
Any change in bowel habits
Blood in or on stool
Diarrhea, constipation, or a feeling that your bowels never fully empty
Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps
Unexplained or unintentional weight loss
Like other diseases, healthy lifestyle choices can help prevent colorectal cancers. Some suggestions that can lower your risk for colorectal cancers include:
Increased physical activity
Maintaining a diet that emphasizes fruits, vegetables and whole grains while limiting red or processed meats
Limiting tobacco and alcohol consumption
Keeping yourself fit and at a healthy weight
While some risk factors can be managed, others cannot. Those at higher risk for colorectal cancers include:
Older adults
People with type 2 diabetes
Anyone with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
An existing family history of colorectal cancer or polyps
Genetic syndromes
You can learn more about the benefits of cancer screening HERE.
