In the United States, colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death. Cancers of the colon and rectum are often referred to together, as colorectal cancer. When detected early, colorectal cancer is often curable. When pre-cancerous growths or polyps are detected and removed through screening, colorectal cancer can often be prevented.

Colorectal Cancer Symptoms

If you have any of the following symptoms,check with your healthcare provider as soon as is possible. A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days. A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so. Rectal bleeding, dark stools, or blood in the stool, cramping or abdominal (belly) pain or weakness and fatigue.

Most of these symptoms are more likely to be caused by conditions other than colorectal cancer, such as infection, hemorrhoids, or inflammatory bowel disease. Still, if you have any of these problems, it's important to see your healthcare provider right away so the cause can be found and treated, if needed.

Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis

Health care providers may suggest one or more of the following tests for colorectal cancer screening:

Sigmoidoscopy ? In this test, the rectum and lower colon are examined using a lighted instrument called a sigmoidoscope. During sigmoidoscopy, precancerous and cancerous growths in the rectum and lower colon can be found and either removed or tested.

Colorectal Cancer Treatment

Different types of treatment are available for patients with colon cancer. Three types of standard treatment are used:

* Surgery (removing the cancer in an operation) is the most common treatment for all stages of colon cancer.

* Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. When chemotherapy is taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle, the drugs enter the bloodstream and can reach cancer cells throughout the body (systemic chemotherapy). When chemotherapy is placed directly into the spinal column, an organ, or a body cavity such as the abdomen, the drugs mainly affect cancer cells in those areas (regional chemotherapy).

* Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. There are two types of radiation therapy. External radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the cancer. Internal radiation therapy uses a radioactive substance sealed in needles, seeds, wires, or catheters that are placed directly into or near the cancer.

Colorectal cancer occurs most commonly in individuals age 50 and older; however, younger people can also develop this disease. Screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for men and women beginning at age 50. Those with certain risk factors?such as a family history of colorectal polyps or cancer?need to talk with their doctor about getting screened at a younger age.