Colorectal Cancer: Dealing Day-to-Day

Reviewed By:
Martin E. Liebling, M.D., FACP

A diagnosis of any type of cancer can be frightening. When the cancer also happens to be the second deadliest cancer in America, such a diagnosis can leave a person speechless. But there is a great deal of hope.

There are many steps you can take to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. With regular and thorough screenings, this cancer can be caught in its earliest stages, before it has had a chance to do much damage. If it is caught early, it can be very effectively treated. Many people diagnosed with early-stage colorectal cancer can be cured.

There following tips can help you to prevent colorectal cancer, catch it in its earliest stages, treat it and get on with your life:

1. Make healthy life choices.

Your health is important throughout your life. Staying healthy can help to reduce your risk of developing this and other forms of cancer. To reduce your risk of colorectal cancer, be sure to:

• Eat a healthy diet. Get more fiber in your diet by eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Reduce the amount of red meats and other animal fats that you eat.
• Stay fit. Exercise for at least half an hour at least five days each week.
• Don't smoke. Also, try to avoid secondhand smoke as much as you can.
• Limit alcohol use.

These lifestyle choices can help prevent colorectal cancer as well as keep you healthier overall. You will feel better and have more energy and you can take pride in taking care of yourself.

2. Know your risk.

Not everyone has the same risk of colorectal cancer. Some people may be much more likely to develop this cancer than others. It is important to know if you are among those at high risk. Risk factors include:

• Family history. People who have two or more close relatives with colorectal cancer account for about 20 percent of patients with colorectal cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.
  
  
• Previous cancer or polyps. If you have had colorectal cancer before and it was cured, or if you have ever had another cancer, such as ovarian, endometrial or breast cancers, you are also at a higher risk. If you have colon polyps, they may become cancerous.
  
  
• Other chronic conditions. Chronic inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes and certain hereditary colon or rectal disorders also increases your risk of colorectal cancer. For example, a family history of adenomatous polyposis, in which hundreds of polyps develop, can not only increase your risk of colorectal cancer, but can also make it more likely that you will develop the cancer at a younger age.
  
  
• Ethnicity. If you are from Eastern European Jewish descent, your risk may be higher for colorectal cancer.

3. Watch for potential signs and symptoms.

Colorectal cancer may or may not cause obvious signs and symptoms. However, if you do notice a possible sign or symptom of this cancer, it is important to contact your doctor.

But don't panic. Many of the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer may be caused by a number of other conditions as well. Frequently, the cause is minor. Nevertheless, it is better to discuss any potential symptoms with your doctor so that cancer can be verified or ruled out and the actual cause can be determined.

Potential signs and symptoms include a change in bowel habits, including stools that are narrower than usual. There may be bright red or dark blood in your stool or in the toilet after a bowel movement and you may bleed from your rectum. You may experience a feeling that the bowel has not emptied after a bowel movement or an urge to have a bowel movement when there is no need. You may also have abdominal discomfort including cramps, gas pains, bloating or fullness. You may have diarrhea, constipation, or you may vomit. Finally, you may notice unexplained weight loss or you may always feel tired, even after you have rested.

4. Undergo regular and thorough screening.

Colorectal cancer can be detected in its early stages through screening tests. Ninety percent of people treated for early-stage colorectal cancer, before it has begun to spread to other parts of the body, survive at least five years and often much longer, according to the American Cancer Society. However, after the cancer has spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes, only 68 percent of patients survive for at least five years. The survival rate drops to 10 percent after the cancer spreads to distant organs or lymph nodes.

Despite the benefits of early diagnosis, only 39 percent of colorectal cancer is caught early. Many Americans do not follow the recommended schedule of tests and miss the opportunity to have this cancer diagnosed in an early stage. Increased screening among all Americans could greatly reduce the incidence and death rate of colorectal cancer.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a screening schedule for adults age 50 and older that includes a fecal occult blood test or a fecal immunochemical test once every year. In addition, a flexible sigmoidoscopy or double-contrast barium enema every five years or a colonoscopy every 10 years should also be performed. If you have a higher risk of colorectal cancers, such as a family history of colorectal cancer, you should start screening at a younger age and you may need testing more often. For example, the American Cancer Society recommends that people with familial adenomatous polyposis begin colonoscopy during their teens.

5. Know your treatment options.

There are multiple ways to treat colorectal cancer. The treatment options that are right for you generally depend on how far the cancer has progressed, your age, and your overall health. Surgical removal of the cancer is the most common treatment for all stages of colorectal cancer. This may or may not involve an incision. In fact, polyps, both cancerous and noncancerous, can often be removed during a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

Radiation therapy uses x-rays or other forms of radiation to kill cancer cells. It may be performed to reduce large cancers before surgery, to kill any cancer cells left after surgery, or to reduce pain, intestinal blockage or other symptoms. Side effects of radiation used on colorectal cancer are often temporary. They include sexual problems, diarrhea, nausea and fatigue. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill or control cancer cells. It may be used for the same reasons as radiation therapy including reducing cancer before surgery, killing remaining cancer cells after surgery and easing symptoms. Chemotherapy may be combined with radiation therapy in treatment.