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GENERAL INFORMATION
What is it?
- Colorectal cancer starts as a tumor (lump) in the colon and rectum. Normal cells divide in a planned way making more cells only when needed. Cancer happens when cells grow and divide without control or order, often making too much tissue. Colon cancer cells may grow into nearby healthy tissue. It is very common for colon cancer to spread to the liver. Or, they may break away from the tumor. These cells travel through the blood stream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. It is called metastasis or "mets" when tumor cells spread to other areas of the body.
- The colon and rectum are also called the large bowel. They are part of the digestive system in the lower part of the abdomen. The digestive system is where food is swallowed and broken down. The colon is the first 5 to 6 feet of the large bowel. This is where BM is formed. The rectum is the last 6 to 8 inches of the large bowel. It is the last part of the bowel where BM stays before it leaves the body.
Causes:
There is no known cause but you cannot catch cancer from someone else who has it. Following are some of the things that may put you at higher risk for getting colorectal cancer.
- Eating a diet high in fattening foods and low in fiber. Foods high in fiber are cereals, fruits, and vegetables.
- Having polyps, which are small lumps of tissue in your colon.
- Having a disease of the bowel such as ulcerative colitis.
- Having a parent, sister, or brother with colon cancer.
Signs and Symptoms:
During the early stages of colorectal cancer there are usually not any symptoms. But early cancer may be found during a rectal exam or endoscopy. Later you may have bloody or black BM, cramping abdominal pain, or a full feeling. You may have diarrhea, become constipated, have pencil-thin BMs, or bright red blood in your BM. Losing weight without reason, rectal pain, or feeling tired all the time may be other signs of cancer.
Screening tests for colorectal cancer enables physicians to detect the disease at an early curable stage. In addition, the screening may indicate the presence of polyps that might eventually become cancer. These polyps can be removed before they become cancerous growths.
The American Cancer Society recommends that beginning at age 50, men and women participate in screening. Screening should begin earlier if your personal or family medical history includes colorectal cancer or polyps or chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
Care:
- Your caregiver will first do tests to find out what stage the cancer is in. Staging includes measuring the lump and also having tests to see if the cancer has spread. The tests may include a rectal exam, ultrasound, blood tests, other x-rays and body scans. The results of the tests will help you and your caregiver decide on a treatment plan.
- There are many different ways to treat colorectal cancer. You may need to take anticancer medicine. You may also need radiation or surgery. Often two or more kinds of treatment will be used together such as medicine and radiation. Or, you may choose medicine and surgery to treat your cancer.
Coping:
Accepting that you have cancer is hard. You and those close to you may feel scared, depressed, angry, or sad. These are normal feelings. Talk to your caregivers, family, or friends about your feelings. You may also want to join a cancer support group. This is a group of people who also have colorectal cancer. Call or write one of the following organizations for more information.
- American Cancer Society
1599 Clifton Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30329
Phone: 1-800-227-2345
Web Address: http://www.cancer.org
- National Cancer Institute
Cancer Information Service
Suite 3036A
Bethesda, MD 20892-8322
Phone: 1-800-422-6237
Web Address: http://www.nci.nih.gov
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