Colorectal cancer affects men and women about equally. Over 135,000 new cases arc diagnosed annually, a rate of 1 in 18 adults. But colorectal cancer can be successfully treated: When detected early, before it has spread, the 5-year survival rate is about 90 percent.
Who's at Risk?
People over age 50 (but can occur at younger ages)
Who's at Higher Risk?
People of any age with personal history of:
- Colorectal polyps
- Colorectal cancer
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- People of any age with family history of:
- Colorectal polyps
- Colorectal cancer
- Familiar adenomatus polyps (FAP)
- Hereditary non-polypsis colon cancer IHNPCC)
Warning Signs:
- Blood in stool (bright red or very dark)
- Rectal bleeding
- Change in bowel habits
- Frequent constipation
- Frequent diarrhea
- Feeling that bowel is not emptying completely
- Stools that are narrower than usual (pencil thin)
- Abdominal discomfort- frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness and/or cramps
- Unexplained weight loss
American Cancer Society Screening Guidelines for people age 50 and over:
- Yearly digital rectal examination (ORE) by a physician
- Yearly fecal occult blood test
- With sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Or colonoscopy every 10 years
- Or double contrast barium enema every 5 years