Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women in the U.S. Each
year, colorectal cancer is diagnosed in roughly 55,000 U.S. men and 57,000 U.S. women.17
Because colorectal cancer is quite treatable when detected early, it is commonly
recommended that people 50 years of age or older and those at a high risk for colorectal
cancer be screened for the disease. Screening methods include testing for blood in the
stool (fecal occult blood test), sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy.
Colorectal cancer begins in cells that line the colon. As the cells increase in number, they
spread around the colon like a "napkin ring." If not detected early, the cancer may
spread into nearby organs throughout the body to the liver, lungs and other organs. In
order to understand the best treatment options available for treatment of colorectal cancer, it
is important to first determine where the cancer has spread in the body.
Treatment of colorectal cancer varies by stage of the disease.
Stage 0: Carcinoma in situ; cancer is confined to the innermost layer of the colon
Stage I: Cancer extends beyond the innermost layer of the colon.
Stage II: Cancer may get through the wall of the colon into the abdominal cavity or other
nearby organs but does not invade any local lymph nodes.
Stage III: Cancer invades one or more of the local lymph nodes but has not spread to
distant organs.
Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant locations in the body, which may include the
liver, lungs, bones or other sites.
American Cancer Society: About Staging
Treatment of colorectal cancer may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or
targeted therapy. It is important for patients to remember that treatment is determined by
the stage and other specific characteristics of the cancer. Patients should speak with
their doctor to discuss the individual risks and benefits of each treatment option.
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