Colon Cancer

What is Colon Cancer?  Cancer that begins in the colon or rectum  The colon and rectum are both parts of the large intestine  The third most common type of cancer in both men and women in the United States

Colon Cancer Statistics Affects both men and women:  the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States  the third most common cancer in men and in women In 2012:  134,784 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer  including 70,204 men and 64,580 women  51,516 people in the United States died from colorectal cancer  including 26,866 men and 24,650 women

Types of Colon Cancer  Adenocarcinomas Other less common types of tumors may also start in the colon and rectum. These include:  Carcinoid tumors  Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs)  Lymphomas  Sarcomas

Risk Factors Certain diets:  A diet that is high in red meats and processed meats Physical Inactivity:  If you are not physically active, you have a greater chance of developing colorectal cancer Obesity:  If you are very overweight, your risk of developing and dying from colorectal cancer is increased Smoking:  Long-term smokers are more likely to develop and die from colorectal cancer Heavy Alcohol Use:  Colorectal cancer has been linked to the heavy use of alcohol. Age:  Younger adults can develop colorectal cancer, but the chances increase markedly after age 50 Personal History of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer:  you have a history of adenomatous polyps, you are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer  If you have had colorectal cancer you are more likely to develop new cancers in other areas of the colon and rectum.

Personal History of inflammatory bowel disease:  If you have IBD, your risk of developing colorectal cancer is increased Family History:  People with a history of colorectal cancer in one or more first-degree relatives are at increased risk. The risk is about doubled in those with only one affected first-degree relative. It is even higher if that relative was diagnosed with cancer when they were younger than 45, or if more than one first-degree relative is affected. Inherited Syndromes:  Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)  Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)  Turcot syndrome  Peutz-Jeghers syndrome  MUTYH-associated polyposis More Risk Factors

Racial and Ethnic Background:  African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all racial groups in the United States.  Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi Jews) have one of the highest colorectal cancer risks of any ethnic group in the world Type 2 Diabetes:  People with type 2 (usually non-insulin dependent) diabetes have an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer. Previous Treatment for certain types of Cancers:  men who survived testicular cancer seem to have a higher rate of colorectal cancer

Signs and Symptoms of Colon Cancer  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  Blood in the stool which may make it look dark  Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain  Weakness and fatigue  Unintended weight loss Colorectal cancers can bleed. While sometimes the blood can be seen or cause the stool to become darker, often the stool looks normal. The blood loss can build up over time, though, and lead to low red blood cell counts (anemia). Sometimes the first sign of colorectal cancer is a blood test showing a low red blood cell count.

Tests to Detect Colon Cancer  High-sensitivity fecal occult blood tests (FOBT)  Sigmoidoscopy  Standard (or optical) colonoscopy  Cologuard®  Virtual colonoscopy  Double-contrast barium enema  Single-specimen guaiac FOBT done in a doctor's office

Treatment of Colon Cancer Stage 0 Surgery to take out the cancer is all that is needed. Stage I If the polyp is removed completely, with no cancer cells in the edges no other treatment may be needed. If the cancer in the polyp was high grade or there were cancer cells at the edges of the polyp, more surgery may be advised. For cancers not in a polyp, surgery to remove the section of colon that has cancer and nearby lymph nodes is the standard treatment. Stage II Surgery to remove the section of the colon containing the cancer along with nearby lymph nodes may be the only treatment needed. Chemotherapy (chemo) after surgery may be reccommended if the cancer has a higher risk of coming back. Stage III Surgery to remove the section of the colon containing the cancer along with nearby lymph nodes followed by adjuvant chemo is the standard treatment for this stage, radiation therapy might be used if cancer cells might have been left behind after surgery.

Treatments of Colon Cancer Stage IV A partial colectomy to remove the section of the colon containing the cancer along with nearby lymph nodes, plus surgery to remove the areas of cancer spread. Chemo is typically given as well, before and/or after surgery. Hepatic artery infusion may be used if the cancer has spread to the liver. If the metastases cannot be surgically removed, chemo may be given, then, if the tumors shrink, surgery may be tried. Chemo would then be given again after surgery. Another option may be to destroy tumors in the liver with ablation or embolization. If the cancer is too widespread to try to cure it with surgery, chemo is the main treatment. Recurrent colon cancer Recurrent cancer means that the cancer has returned after treatment. The recurrence may be local (near the area of the initial tumor), or it may affect distant organs. Regimens are the same as for stage IV disease.

Survival Rates

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