What You Need to Know About Colorectal Cancer

What Is It?

When doctors find this disease early, it’s highly curable. It happens when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (also called the colon) or the rectum. It can strike both men and women, and it has the second highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S.

What Are the Symptoms?

Colorectal cancer doesn’t have early warning signs, so it's important to get screened. Finding it early means it's more curable. As the disease gets worse, you may see blood in your stool or have pain in your belly, bathroom-related troubles like constipation or diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue. By the time these symptoms appear, tumors tend to be bigger and harder to treat.

 

Tests that Find Colorectal Cancer

Screening tests are key to an early diagnosis. Most people should have a colonoscopy every 10 years once they turn 50. This test uses a tube with a tiny camera to look at the whole colon and rectum. It can help prevent colorectal cancer by finding tumors early. Your doctor will then remove the polyps.

The Stages of Colorectal Cancer

Experts "stage" any cancers they find -- a process to see how far the disease has spread. Higher stages mean you have a more serious case of cancer. Tumor size doesn’t always make a difference. Staging also helps your doctor decide what type of treatment you get.

• Stage 0 -- Cancer is in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.
• Stage I -- The disease has grown into the muscle layer of the colon or rectum.
• Stage II -- Cancer has grown into or through the outermost layer of the colon or rectum.
• Stage III -- It has spread to one or more lymph nodes in the area.
• Stage IV -- It has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, or bones.

 

Survival Rates

The outlook for your recovery depends on the stage of your cancer. You might hear your doctor talk about the “5-year survival rate.” That means the percentage of people who live 5 years or more after being diagnosed. Stage I has a 74% 5-year survival rate, while stage IV's is 6%.

 

Can Surgery Help?

Surgery has a very high cure rate in the early stages of colorectal cancer. In all but the last stage, doctors remove the tumors and surrounding tissue. If they are big, your doctor may need to take out an entire piece of your colon or rectum. If the disease affects your liver, lungs, or other organs, surgery probably won’t cure you. But it may help ease your symptoms.

 

Fighting Advanced Cancer

Colorectal cancer can still sometimes be cured even if it has spread to your lymph nodes (stage III). Treatment typically involves surgery, radiation (shown here), and chemotherapy. If the disease comes back or spreads to other organs, it will probably be harder to cure. But radiation and chemotherapy may still ease your symptoms and help you live longer.

 

Prevent Colorectal Cancer With Healthy Habits

You can take steps to dramatically lower your odds of getting the disease. Eat a nutritious diet, get enough exercise, and control your body fat. Those habits prevent 45% of colorectal cancers. 

The World Health Organization recommends a diet heavy on fruits and vegetables, light on processed and red meat, and with whole grains instead of refined grains. That will help you keep a healthy weight.

 

 

Prevent Cancer With Exercise

Adults who stay active seem to have a powerful weapon against colorectal cancer. In one study, the most active people were 24% less likely to have the disease than the least active. It didn't matter whether what they did was work or play. 

Exercise is recommended 5 or more days a week for at least 30 minutes a day. Vigorous exercise gives you even more benefits in less time -- 20 minutes 3 or 4 days a week.