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You Can Beat Colon Cancer! 

General Info:  Every year 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed.  More than 40,000 people die from this disease annually.  It is the second highest cause of death of all cancers.  Early detection is the key to a cure.

Risk Factors:  The incidence of colon cancer increases with age.  Patients with a family history of colon cancer from first-degree relatives are at higher risk, especially if those cancers were found at an early age (less than 50 years old).  Patients who have a history of polyps will also be at higher risk.  Other diseases of the colon, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease, will also place patients at higher risk.

Symptoms:  Colon cancer can cause symptoms of bleeding, weight loss, constipation, smaller stool size, or pain.  Many times these symptoms are due to benign disease.  However, when they are due to colon cancer, the disease is usually advanced. 

Detection:  Annually, primary care physicians perform rectal examinations and test the stool for microscopic blood.  Further evaluation is indicated starting at age 50.  Colonoscopy is a simple procedure that can detect colon cancer before symptoms develop.  It should be performed every 10 years or more frequently if the patient is at higher risk.

Treatment:  Surgery is usually the first step in the treatment of this disease.  Partial removal of the colon requires general anesthetic and a stay in the hospital.  Many times it can be completed with laparoscopy (minimally invasive).  Radiation and chemotherapy may also be needed depending on how far the cancer has spread.

Prognosis:  Cancer that is detected early and without symptoms can achieve a "cure" with a 75-90% chance of survival after five years.  Those with more advanced disease will fare much worse even with chemotherapy.  Again, early detection by colonoscopy is the key to beating colon cancer!