Forsyth Medical Center 
Colorectal
Colorectal Cancer
| Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in the United States, affecting140,000 people annually and causing 60,000 deaths. Colorectal cancer is often curable if detected early. |
Risk factors of colorectal cancer include:
- Age (90% of patients are over age 40)
- Family history of colorectal cancer and polyps
- History of ulcerative colitis, colon polyps, breast cancer or cancer of the uterus
Signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer
- Rectal bleeding
- Changes in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
- Abdominal pain (usually a late symptom)
- Weight loss (usually a late symptom)
Many polyps and early cancers do not produce symptoms. Therefore, it is important that your routine physical includes colorectal cancer screenings once you reach age 40.
Treatment of colorectal cancer
- Surgery (nearly all cases require surgery for complete cure)
- Radiation
- Chemotherapy
Approximately 80-90% of patients are restored to normal health if the cancer is detected and treated in the earliest stages. That rate drops to 50% or less when diagnosis occurs in later stages. Less than 5% of colorectal cancer patients require a colostomy.
For more information on colorectal cancer and treatments, click here.
