Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Colorectal cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the colon or rectum. It’s the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States.It was estimated that approximately 153,020 cases of colorectal cancer would be diagnosed in 2023, and 52,550 people would die from it.
“Colon” is another name for thelarge intestine. The rectum is the end of the large intestine that connects to the anus. This part of the body absorbs water and nutrients from food and propels the waste out of the body.
This article will cover the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of colorectal cancer. It will also discuss the prognosis and survival rate.
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Types of Colorectal Cancer
“Colorectal cancer” is the name for the cancers that begin in the colon or the rectum. While these cancers are pretty similar, there aredifferences between colorectal and colon cancer.
Most colorectal cancers areadenocarcinomas. These begin in the cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum.
Other rare cancers that can develop in the colon and rectum include:
Colorectal Cancer Symptoms
Colon cancer symptoms and signsare vague. They’re also signs of many other diseases, includingirritable bowel syndromeandhemorrhoids. Just because you have these symptoms doesn’t mean you have colorectal cancer. But you should mention any of them to a healthcare provider.
The warning signs of colorectal cancer include:
There is no known cause for most colon cancers.Causes and risk factors of colon cancerare varied, but the most important factor isyour age, which increases your colorectal cancer risk.
Lifestyle factors that you can control, like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and having obesity can increase your risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Other relevant risk factors for colorectal cancer include:
In the United States, Black people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer more often than those of other races/ethnicities.
If you have any of these symptoms and a healthcare provider thinks you may be at risk of colon cancer, they’ll do a physical exam, take your medical history and do some testing.
Diagnosing colon cancertypically involves:
The diagnostic testing will also help determineyour colon or rectal cancer stage. Staging is how healthcare providers compare different cancers and help decide the best treatments. They also can give you an idea of your prognosis.
Treatment of colon and rectal cancerdepends on the type andstage. In some cases, colorectal cancer is treatable and even curable.
Treatment may include surgery,radiation therapy,chemotherapy, targeted therapy, andimmunotherapy.
Surgery is often combined with other treatments, including radiation. Radiation is the use of high-energy waves to damage cancer cells. For colorectal cancer, you might get radiation before or after surgery. You’ll usually get several treatments over a set period.
A few types of radiation may be used for colorectal cancer treatment, including:
Chemotherapy is drugs that destroy fast-growing cells, including cancer. Multiple chemotherapy drugs can be combined and given on a specific schedule of medicines and doses over a set period. It may be given before or after surgery or along with radiation.
Chemotherapy drugs used for colorectal cancer include:
Targeted therapy drugs are specific for cancer’s genes, proteins, or how it grows and survives. Not all cancers have the same targets—the oncologist (cancer specialist) will run tests to find the genes, proteins, and other factors they may be able to target in your tumor.
Targeted therapies for colorectal cancer include:
Immunotherapies for colorectal cancer work to engage the immune system in fighting back against the cancer. The most important immunotherapy drugs that treat colorectal cancer are checkpoint inhibitors, which take the brakes off the immune system. Common ones used for these cancers include:
The National Cancer Institute tracks cancer survival rates in its Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. These rates cannot predict an individual’s prognosis, but they provide an overview of how the cancer affects a population. They do not reflect the impact of newer treatments released in the past five years.
For people diagnosed between 2012 and 2018, the five-year survival rate for all stages of colon cancer was 63%. For localized colon cancer, it’s 91%; for regional colon cancer, it’s 72%; and for distant colon cancer, it’s 13%.
The five-year survival rate for cancers of the rectum was 68%. For localized rectal cancer, it’s 90%; for regional rectal cancer, it’s 74%; for distant rectal cancer, it’s 17%.
Combined, colorectal cancer has a 65% five-year survival rate. That means colorectal cancer is fatal in 35% of people in the first five years after diagnosis. Localized colorectal cancer has a five-year survival rate of 90.9%. Regional colorectal cancer is 73.4%, and for distant, it is 15.6%.
A diagnosis of colon cancer can be overwhelming and emotional. Taking care of yourself physically and mentally is important during this time. Here are some tips to help you cope with colorectal cancer:
Remember, a colorectal cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. With early detection and treatment, many people can successfully fight the disease and lead healthy lives. Stay hopeful and take things one day at a time.
Summary
Colorectal cancer is a type of cancer that affects the colon or rectum. It is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United States. Most colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas. These begin in the cells lining the inside of the colon and rectum. Some colorectal cancers are rare types.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
There is no known cause for most colon cancers. Age, and lifestyle factors, like drinking and smoking, can play a role. A family history of colorectal cancer or certain genetic conditions can increase the risk.
Diagnosing colorectal cancer typically involves a physical exam, testing for blood in the stool, blood tests, biopsies, and imaging tests. Treatment options depend on the type and stage of the cancer. They may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: common cancer sites.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Large intestine (colon): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia ImageAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: introduction.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: symptoms and signs.National Cancer Institute.Colon cancer treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: types of treatment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves fruquintinib in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: coping with treatment.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: common cancer sites.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Large intestine (colon): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia ImageAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: introduction.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: symptoms and signs.National Cancer Institute.Colon cancer treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: types of treatment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves fruquintinib in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: coping with treatment.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: common cancer sites.National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer.U.S. National Library of Medicine.Large intestine (colon): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia ImageAmerican Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: introduction.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: symptoms and signs.National Cancer Institute.Colon cancer treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version.American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: types of treatment.Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves fruquintinib in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.American Cancer Society.Survival rates for colorectal cancer.American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: coping with treatment.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: common cancer sites.
National Cancer Institute.Cancer stat facts: colorectal cancer.
U.S. National Library of Medicine.Large intestine (colon): MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia Image
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: introduction.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: symptoms and signs.
National Cancer Institute.Colon cancer treatment (PDQ®)–health professional version.
American Cancer Society.Tests to diagnose and stage colorectal cancer.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: types of treatment.
Food and Drug Administration.FDA approves fruquintinib in refractory metastatic colorectal cancer.
American Cancer Society.Survival rates for colorectal cancer.
American Society of Clinical Oncology.Colorectal cancer: coping with treatment.
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