Colorectal Cancer

Cancer of the colon or rectum

Colorectal cancer primarily affects men and women aged 50 years or older. For men, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after prostate cancer and lung cancer. For women, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer after breast cancer and lung cancer. The disease surpasses both breast and prostate cancer in mortality, second only to lung cancer in number of cancer deaths.

Colorectal cancer screening saves lives. Screening can find precancerous polyps (abnormal growths in the colon or rectum) so that they can be removed before turning into cancer. If everyone 50 years or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented.

Risk factors for colorectal cancer are:

• Family history (first-degree relative).
• Inflammatory bowel disease.

Modifiable factors that increase risk:

• Obesity.
• Eating more than 7 servings a week of red meat.
• Smoking.
• Consuming more than 4 drinks of alcohol a week.

If you are 50 or older, or think you may be at higher than average risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about which of the following screening methods is right for you.

At age 50:

• A yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT).
• A digital rectal exam every 5 to 10 years.
• A sigmoidoscopy together with an FOBT every 5 years.
• A colonoscopy or double contrast barium enema every 5 to 10 years.

Additional Resources:

For questions to ask your doctor -
www.cdc.gov/colorectalcancer/basic_info/index.htm
Then click on FAQ's in left column.

American Cancer - Learn about colon & Rectum cancer
www.cancer.org/docroot/LRN/LRN_0.asp?dt=10

The Cancer Research & Prevention Foundation
www.preventcancer.org/colorectal.