Digestive System

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to colorectal cancer. Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Colon cancer is most easily treated and cured when detected early, before cancer has spread. Age and health history affect who is at risk for developing colon cancer. Symptoms

Here are definitions of medical terms related to colon cancer. Adenocarcinomas: The most common type of bowel tumors. They are usually found in the inner lining of the intestine. Adenoma: A benign tumor usually made up of gland or gland-like cells. It may crowd out surrounding healthy tissues. Anastomosis: Surgical reattachment of the two ends of the colon,

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on colorectal cancer. American Cancer Society (ACS)  Phone: (800) ACS-2345(toll-free hotline)  www.cancer.org National Cancer Institute (NCI), Cancer Information Service  Phone: (800) 4-CANCER Phone: 800-422-6237 www.nci.nih.gov Preventing colorectal cancer: National Cancer Institute: Colon and Rectal Cancer Home Page What you need to know about colorectal cancer:

Colon cancer is a common type of malignancy (cancer) in which there is uncontrolled growth of the cells that line the inside of the colon or rectum. Colon cancer is also called colorectal cancer. The colon, also known as the large intestine, is the last part of the digestive tract. The rectum is the very

There are several causes for colorectal cancer as well as factors that place certain individuals at increased risk for the disease. There are known genetic and environmental factors. People at risk for colorectal cancer: The biggest risk factor is age. Colon cancer is rare in those under 40 years. The rate of colorectal cancer detection

Screening for colorectal cancer involves special tests performed on people who have no symptoms of a particular illness. Good screening tests are: Safe Relatively inexpensive Proven effective in detecting the disease at an early stage and reducing the death rate from that disease Current screening tests for colorectal cancer meet these four requirements and include:

If people experience symptoms like those of colorectal cancer, they need to make an appointment with their family physician, a gastroenterologist, a physician specially trained in the management of digestive system disorders, or a colon and rectal surgeon, a specialist in treatment of diseases of the colon. The doctor performs a thorough clinical evaluation that

Staging is a method to describe how advanced a cancer is. Staging for colorectal cancer takes into account the depth of invasion into the colon wall, and spread to lymph nodes and other organs: Stage 0 (Carcinoma in Situ): Stage 0 cancer is also called carcinoma in situ. This is a precancerous condition, usually found in

The outlook for people with colon cancer has improved steadily in recent years. Three types of treatment are available for individuals with colon cancer: Surgery is an operation that involves removing the cancerous section of the colon. This is the primary treatment for colon cancer for most individuals. Chemotherapy involves treatment with drugs that destroy fast-growing cells,