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What exactly is colorectal cancer?
- According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. It's also the second leading cause of cancer death in the country. Furthermore, it's estimated that over 150,000 people are diagnosed annually. Of these, over 52,000 will succumb to the disease. If caught early enough at the localized stage, the five-year survival rate for this type of cancer is 90%. Symptoms aren't always apparent though, so it's vital to undergo early screening to detect its presence. But what exactly is colorectal cancer, how does it develop, and are there precautions you can take to lower the risk factors? Click through and find out more about this disease and the parts of the body it affects.
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Identifying colorectal cancer
- Colorectal cancer, which also includes colon or bowel (rectal) cancer, is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. The disease is designated as colon or bowel cancer, depending on where the cancer starts.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Who's most at risk?
- It's a common cancer in men and women, with 66 being the median age of diagnosis among both sexes.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
What is the colon?
- The colon is also known as the large bowel or large intestine. The large intestine includes the rectum and anus.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Where does the cancer develop?
- The cancer develops on the colon's mucus membrane. In 70% of cases, the tumor develops in the sigmoid colon.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
How does the cancer develop?
- Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Slow to appear
- In fact, colorectal cancer can take many years to develop, as long as 10-15 years. But this can lull the patient into a false sense of security. In this image, cancer tumors (marked in red) are present in the caecum and rectum.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer stages
- If left untreated, the cancer will take hold. This image illustrates the various stages of development. From left to right: 1st stage: sub mucus membrane is infected; 2nd stage: the muscularis is infected; 3rd stage: the muscularis, the sub serous membrane, the nonperitonealised pericolic tissue, and the perirectal tissue are infected.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Risk factors
- Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older. You're also more susceptible to the condition if you have inflammatory bowel disease, for example Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Family history of disease
- The risk factor increases if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer symptoms
- Colorectal cancer doesn't always cause symptoms, especially at first. However, there are three red flags to look out for.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Three main signs
- The three main symptoms of colorectal cancer are: persistent blood in or on your stool; a change in bowel habits; and persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating, or discomfort.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Other indicators
- Diarrhea, constipation, or the feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way are other indicators that something is amiss.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Worrying weight loss
- Significant unintentional weight loss is another sign of a potentially serious medical condition.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
When to see a doctor
- It's important to stress that all these symptoms can be indicative of disorders other than cancer. The only way to check what's causing them is to see a doctor.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
The age factor
- While these symptoms should always be taken seriously, there's a particular urgency to obtain a diagnosis if you're nearing 50: most cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed after age 50.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
What if symptoms persist?
- If symptoms like abdominal pain, aches, or cramps persist, don't delay in seeking further medical advice.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Medical examination
- If your doctor is suspicious of cancer, you'll be scheduled to undergo a medical examination. This may entail an inspection of your tummy and backside to make sure you have no lumps.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Blood test
- A simple blood test can check for iron deficiency anemia. This can indicate whether there's any bleeding from your bowel that you have not been aware of.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Fecal occult blood test
- Alternatively, you may be asked to undertake a fecal occult blood test where a small sample of your stool is obtained and sent to a lab. This is checked for tiny amounts of blood—a potential sign of polyps or bowel cancer.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer screening
- In fact, a fecal occult blood test is one of the five types of tests used to screen for colorectal cancer. Screening also involves a sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and a DNA stool test.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Screening recommendations
- A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person doesn't have symptoms. Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. It makes sense therefore to undergo screening and have any removed before they turn malignant.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
When to commence regular screenings
- Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. In fact, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. So, how can you help yourself remain cancer free?
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Exercise regularly
- The benefits of regular exercise on the human body is well documented. Being inactive is a no-no and also encourages ill-health, cancer included.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Healthy diet
- There are several lifestyle options you can adopt to decrease the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Following a healthy, balanced diet low in animal fats and high in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a gut-friendly way of maintaining overall good health.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Check your weight
- Keeping to a healthy weight doubtless keeps body and soul together. Bowel cancer especially is more common in overweight or obese people.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Limit alcohol consumption
- Embracing healthy lifestyle choices also means limiting alcohol intake. Drinking too much promotes ill-health, including a number of cancers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Stub out the habit
- If you smoke, quit. Better still, avoid tobacco from the get-go.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer survival rate
- According to Cancer.Net, the five-year survival rate of people with localized stage colorectal cancer is 91%. This percentage decreases the later the cancer is detected.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Colon cancer survival rate
- Similarly, the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with colon cancer at a localized stage is 91%. Again, this figure decreases the later the cancer is detected.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Bowel cancer survival rate
- And the five-year survival rate for bowel, or rectal, cancer if detected at a localized stage is 90%. Similarly, this percentage decreases dramatically if the cancer has spread. See also: Tips on healthy aging for a long life
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
What exactly is colorectal cancer?
- According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US. It's also the second leading cause of cancer death in the country. Furthermore, it's estimated that over 150,000 people are diagnosed annually. Of these, over 52,000 will succumb to the disease. If caught early enough at the localized stage, the five-year survival rate for this type of cancer is 90%. Symptoms aren't always apparent though, so it's vital to undergo early screening to detect its presence. But what exactly is colorectal cancer, how does it develop, and are there precautions you can take to lower the risk factors? Click through and find out more about this disease and the parts of the body it affects.
© Shutterstock
0 / 31 Fotos
Identifying colorectal cancer
- Colorectal cancer, which also includes colon or bowel (rectal) cancer, is a disease in which cells in the colon or rectum grow out of control. The disease is designated as colon or bowel cancer, depending on where the cancer starts.
© Getty Images
1 / 31 Fotos
Who's most at risk?
- It's a common cancer in men and women, with 66 being the median age of diagnosis among both sexes.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
What is the colon?
- The colon is also known as the large bowel or large intestine. The large intestine includes the rectum and anus.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
Where does the cancer develop?
- The cancer develops on the colon's mucus membrane. In 70% of cases, the tumor develops in the sigmoid colon.
© Getty Images
4 / 31 Fotos
How does the cancer develop?
- Sometimes abnormal growths, called polyps, form in the colon or rectum. Over time, some polyps may turn into cancer.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Slow to appear
- In fact, colorectal cancer can take many years to develop, as long as 10-15 years. But this can lull the patient into a false sense of security. In this image, cancer tumors (marked in red) are present in the caecum and rectum.
© Getty Images
6 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer stages
- If left untreated, the cancer will take hold. This image illustrates the various stages of development. From left to right: 1st stage: sub mucus membrane is infected; 2nd stage: the muscularis is infected; 3rd stage: the muscularis, the sub serous membrane, the nonperitonealised pericolic tissue, and the perirectal tissue are infected.
© Getty Images
7 / 31 Fotos
Risk factors
- Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older. You're also more susceptible to the condition if you have inflammatory bowel disease, for example Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
Family history of disease
- The risk factor increases if you have a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer symptoms
- Colorectal cancer doesn't always cause symptoms, especially at first. However, there are three red flags to look out for.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Three main signs
- The three main symptoms of colorectal cancer are: persistent blood in or on your stool; a change in bowel habits; and persistent lower abdominal (tummy) pain, bloating, or discomfort.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
Other indicators
- Diarrhea, constipation, or the feeling that the bowel does not empty all the way are other indicators that something is amiss.
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Worrying weight loss
- Significant unintentional weight loss is another sign of a potentially serious medical condition.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
When to see a doctor
- It's important to stress that all these symptoms can be indicative of disorders other than cancer. The only way to check what's causing them is to see a doctor.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
The age factor
- While these symptoms should always be taken seriously, there's a particular urgency to obtain a diagnosis if you're nearing 50: most cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed after age 50.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
What if symptoms persist?
- If symptoms like abdominal pain, aches, or cramps persist, don't delay in seeking further medical advice.
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Medical examination
- If your doctor is suspicious of cancer, you'll be scheduled to undergo a medical examination. This may entail an inspection of your tummy and backside to make sure you have no lumps.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Blood test
- A simple blood test can check for iron deficiency anemia. This can indicate whether there's any bleeding from your bowel that you have not been aware of.
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Fecal occult blood test
- Alternatively, you may be asked to undertake a fecal occult blood test where a small sample of your stool is obtained and sent to a lab. This is checked for tiny amounts of blood—a potential sign of polyps or bowel cancer.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer screening
- In fact, a fecal occult blood test is one of the five types of tests used to screen for colorectal cancer. Screening also involves a sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, and a DNA stool test.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
Screening recommendations
- A screening test is used to look for a disease when a person doesn't have symptoms. Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. It makes sense therefore to undergo screening and have any removed before they turn malignant.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
When to commence regular screenings
- Regular screening, beginning at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. In fact, the US Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. So, how can you help yourself remain cancer free?
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
Exercise regularly
- The benefits of regular exercise on the human body is well documented. Being inactive is a no-no and also encourages ill-health, cancer included.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Healthy diet
- There are several lifestyle options you can adopt to decrease the chances of developing colorectal cancer. Following a healthy, balanced diet low in animal fats and high in fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains is a gut-friendly way of maintaining overall good health.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Check your weight
- Keeping to a healthy weight doubtless keeps body and soul together. Bowel cancer especially is more common in overweight or obese people.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Limit alcohol consumption
- Embracing healthy lifestyle choices also means limiting alcohol intake. Drinking too much promotes ill-health, including a number of cancers.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Stub out the habit
- If you smoke, quit. Better still, avoid tobacco from the get-go.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Colorectal cancer survival rate
- According to Cancer.Net, the five-year survival rate of people with localized stage colorectal cancer is 91%. This percentage decreases the later the cancer is detected.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Colon cancer survival rate
- Similarly, the five-year survival rate for people diagnosed with colon cancer at a localized stage is 91%. Again, this figure decreases the later the cancer is detected.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Bowel cancer survival rate
- And the five-year survival rate for bowel, or rectal, cancer if detected at a localized stage is 90%. Similarly, this percentage decreases dramatically if the cancer has spread. See also: Tips on healthy aging for a long life
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
What exactly is colorectal cancer?
© Shutterstock
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