Why is screening for colorectal cancer important?
Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer related deaths in North America. Each year about 60,000 individuals are expected to die from the disorder and close to 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. In the early stages, colon cancer presents with no symptoms. In the majority of cases, the early beginnings of a colorectal cancer are a small polyp. These small balloon-like tissues usually start of as very small flat lesions but over a 3-10 year period can progress to cancer. Not all polyps are cancerous and it is estimated that about 8-10% of untreated polyps will become malignant. The major risk factor in a polyp becoming a cancer is its size. Small polyps have no risk of cancer but when they are greater than 10-20 mm, the risk is increased significantly. The purpose of the Virtual Colonoscopy is to screen the patient for the smaller polyps and have them removed them before they have the chance to grow large and become cancerous. Studies do indicate that removal o
Screening tests for colorectal cancer can save lives. It is treatable and often curable when detected early. In addition, testing will help to identify the grade of your cancer cells and what treatment action is required. 7. What treatment options are available for colorectal cancer? Treatment for colorectal cancer depends mostly on the size, location, and extent of the tumor, as well as a person’s overall health. Surgery to remove the tumor and radiation is the most common treatment in the earlier stages of the disease. Chemotherapy treatments such as Camptosar are used in the later stages when the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Other chemotherapy treatments approved in Canada to fight cancers of the colon and rectum that have spread to other areas of the body include Xeloda and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). 8. Where can I get more information on colorectal cancer? For more information about this disease, visit the Canadian Cancer Society web site at www.cancer.ca or call toll
Each year, over 150,000 Americans develop cancer of the colon or rectum, which makes colorectal cancer the second most common form of cancer in the United States. Fortunately, if colorectal cancer is found early, there is a much greater chance that it can be cured. How do you screen for colorectal cancer? There are a number of tests that screen for colorectal cancer: fecal occult blood test (FOBT): A small amount of stool is placed on a special card. The physician then has the stool checked for blood, which can be a sign of cancer. sigmoidoscopy: The doctor inspects the rectum and lower colon with a flexible, lighted tube. This procedure is usually done without sedation and lasts about 5 minutes. colonoscopy: Colonoscopy is similar to sigmoidoscopy, but the inside of the entire colon is examined and the instrument used is longer. Sedation is used to make patients comfortable. This test is ordered for people at high risk for colorectal cancer and takes 20 to 45 minutes. symptoms of poly
