By The American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons

Colorectal cancer – cancer of the colon and rectum – is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States for both men and women combined. The general population faces a lifetime risk for developing the disease of about 5 percent, while someone whose family has a history of colorectal cancer has a 10 to 15 percent chance of developing the disease. The risk rises to over 50 percent in people with ulcerative colitis and those whose family members harbor specific genetic mutations.

Approximately 140,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed and 56,000 people will die from the disease this year. Surpassing both breast cancer and prostate cancer in mortality, colorectal cancer is second only to lung cancer in numbers of deaths in the United States.

Colorectal cancer strikes men and women with almost equal frequency. In addition, it is often a silent disease, developing with no symptoms at all. When symptoms do occur they may include the following:

• Blood in or on the stool
• Change in bowel habits
• Stools that are narrower than usual
• General stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness, and/or cramps)
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Frequent gas pains
• Weight loss for no apparent reason
• Rectal bleeding
• Constant tiredness

Although these symptoms are not specific for colorectal cancer and can occur in healthy people, if you have any of these symptoms that are intermittent or persistent please inform your doctor or health professional immediately.

Polyp-related colorectal cancer can be prevented. The disease develops from benign polyps. Polyps are growths on the lining of the colon and rectum that can be either flat (sessile) or mushroom-like (pedunculated). Removing these polyps before they become cancerous may prevent cancer from developing.

A low-fat, high-fiber diet and regular exercise can also lower your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer can be cured in up to 90 percent of people when it is discovered in its early stages. It is estimated that approximately 40,000 lives a year could be saved through widespread adoption of colorectal cancer screening and early treatment in men and women.

African Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in advanced stages. Incidence rates for colorectal cancer in these groups have been on the rise – colorectal cancer has increased 46 percent among African-American men and 10 percent among African-American women. (Sources: National Center for Health Statistics: Vital Statistics for the United States, 1993. Washington, DC, Public Health Service, 1998. American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research, 1996.)

Alaska Native women have the highest mortality from colorectal cancer of any other racial and ethnic group in the United States. (Source: Documentation of the Cancer Research Needs of Indians and Alaska Natives, Native American Monograph No. 1. National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, 1994.)

The risk of developing colorectal cancer increases with age. All men and women aged 50 and older are at risk for developing colorectal cancer, and should be screened. Some people are at a higher risk and should be screened at an age younger than 50, including those with a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease; colorectal cancer or polyps; or ovarian, endometrial or breast cancer.

Current screening methods include fecal occult blood testing (a simple chemical test that can detect hidden blood in the stool), flexible sigmoidoscopy (a visual examination of the rectum and lower portion of the colon, performed in a doctor’s office), double contrast barium enema (barium x-ray), colonoscopy (a visual examination of the entire colon) and digital rectal exam. Colorectal cancer screening, including colonoscopies, costs are covered by Medicare and many commercial health plans.

This information is courtesy of the American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons (ASCRS). Visit their website for the latest information on colorectal cancer.