Colon cancer almost always starts with a polyp!
Colon polyps are small growths on the lining of the colon or rectum, parts of the digestive tract. Testing for colon polyps can save lives by finding polyps before they become cancerous. If precancerous polyps are removed, colon cancer can be prevented.
Colon Cancer Factors:
- 50 or older
- African-American or Ashkenazi Jewish heritage
- Have inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease
- Family history
- Smoking or use of other tobacco products
- Physically inactive – not getting regular exercise
- Eating red meat often
Testing options include:
- Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
- Yearly FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
- Double contrast barium enema every five years
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
Note: If you or a loved one is having symptoms such as bleeding per rectum, non specific but continued lower abdominal bloating or pain, abnormal bowel function (caliber changes in your BM's such as pencil thin stools or diarrhea, or frequent urgency - feelings like you need to have a BM often) please see us and have a complete work as soon as possible.
Overview & Facts
What is colorectal cancer? How do you know if you have it? Here you'll find answers about colorectal cancer, including risk factors and prevention for colon cancer.
What Is Colorectal Cancer?
Colon cancer and rectal cancer are known together as colorectal cancer. Get started here learning the basics of these cancers.
Many colon cancers start at colon polyps, a growth on the inside of the colon. Learn more about colon polyps so you know what to watch out for.
Causes
The exact cause of colorectal cancer is unknown, but several factors are thought to play a role. Learn more here.
Are You at Risk?
Are you at risk for colorectal cancer? Actually, everyone is. Learn about key risk factors here, including diet and other lifestyle factors.
Answer these six questions and determine your risk of colon cancer.
People who have a family history of colorectal cancer are more likely to develop the cancer themselves, particularly if you have certain gene mutations. Learn more here.
Prevention
Diet and exercise, aspirin, and the right tests all have a role in colon cancer prevention. Find out what you need to know.
Find out which foods can help prevent colon cancer and which foods are best to eat in small quantities.
Colon cancer often has no symptoms until its later stages -- when it’s more difficult to treat. Therefore, your best bet to beating colon cancer is to catch it early with screening tests. Screening in low risk patients should start at 50 years of age. Symptomatic patients should be evaluated at any age.
Symptoms & Types
Learn about colorectal cancer symptoms and how the different types and stages of colon and rectal cancer affect prognosis and treatment.
Symptoms
Often times, colon cancer has no symptoms, but this quick, handy guide to the main symptoms of colon cancer can help you know what to look for.
Types
Learn the basics about how the four stages of colorectal cancer differ and what that means.
Diagnosis & Tests
Finding colorectal cancer early is the key to beating it. There are many different tests to detect colorectal cancer. Here you’ll learn what to expect from each test and procedure.
Diagnosis
Here you’ll find an overview of the tests used to screen for colorectal cancer as well as tests used to evaluate colon cancer.
Tests
Finding colon cancer early is key to beating it. That’s why doctors recommend a yearly fecal occult blood test, which tests for invisible blood in the stool, an early sign of colon cancer.
One of the best tools for detecting colon cancer is a colonoscopy. Learn how it’s performed and how to prepare.
Learn about the different imaging tests used to screen and diagnose colon cancer.
Should you have genetic testing for colon cancer? Learn more here to see if it might be right for you.
Learn more about other tests for colorectal cancer here.
Treatment & Care
Many colon cancer treatment options are available for colorectal cancer, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Here’s what to expect from each type of treatment and tips for recovery.
Treatment
Learn how colon polyps are removed and why it’s so important to stay on top of these and other precancerous conditions.
Here’s a quick rundown of the options available for colorectal cancer treatment from surgery to cutting-edge biologic therapy.
Here you’ll find detailed information on how the various stages of colon cancer are treated -- from stage 0 to stage IV and also recurrent colon cancer.
Here you’ll find detailed information on how the various stages of rectal cancer are treated -- from stage 0 to stage IV and also recurrent rectal cancer.
Learn about the different ways chemotherapy is used to treat colon cancer and rectal cancer and the side effects of commonly used chemotherapy drugs.
New medications called monocolonal antibodies are the latest options for treating colon cancer and rectal cancer. Learn more here.
Some people require a colostomy -- an opening between the surface of the skin and the colon -- after colon cancer surgery. It can be permanent or temporary, depending on the situational needs. Learn when it may be necessary.
Learn more about surgery to treat colorectal cancer here.
Care
People with colorectal cancer often encounter several types of doctors when going through treatment. Learn about the different specialists and find out how to build your cancer team.
Be your own best advocate. Know which questions to ask your doctor about your type of colorectal cancer.
Partnering with your doctor helps give you a sense of control and may lead to better treatment. Here’s how to get started.
Getting control of pain that you may have is vitally important. Find out what causes cancer pain and which treatments may be right for you.
Thanks to new drugs and other treatments, you can control nausea from chemotherapy. Find out how.
Learn simple ways to cope with the “terrible triad” of nausea, hair loss, and fatigue from chemotherapy.
What does the future hold? Learn more about the outlook for colorectal cancer and what happens if the cancer comes back.
Regular checkups with your colorectal or general surgeon help ensure that any changes in your health are noticed; and if the cancer returns, it can be treated as soon as possible. This should be done at least annually.
Please contact our Conway office for more information or to schedule a consultation for yourseld or a loved one as soon as possible.