| One of the most common types of cancer | | | | under a microscope. |
| afflicting Americans today is colorectal cancer. | | | | If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer it's |
| About 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with | | | | important to talk about your options with several |
| cancer of the colon and rectum cancer this year. | | | | doctors, including a radiation oncologist, a surgical |
| The disease affects men and women equally. | | | | oncologist and a medical oncologist, to find the |
| Often there are no signs of colorectal cancer, but | | | | treatment that's best for you. |
| symptoms can include change in bowel | | | | * Surgery is the main treatment for early-stage |
| movements, abdominal pain, rectal bleeding, | | | | colorectal cancer. If the disease has not spread, |
| unexplained weight loss and fatigue. Risk factors | | | | surgery alone may cure your cancer. |
| for the disease include family history of colorectal | | | | * Radiation therapy is the careful use of radiation |
| cancer, a history of polyps in the colon, ulcerative | | | | to treat cancer. Radiation therapy works within |
| colitis or Crohn's disease. | | | | cancer cells by damaging their ability to multiply. |
| The American Cancer Society recommends both | | | | Radiation may be given before surgery to shrink |
| men and women over age 50 be screened for | | | | a tumor to make it easier to remove or after |
| colorectal cancer. If you have a family history of | | | | surgery to kill any cancer cells that may remain. |
| the disease, ask your doctor about earlier | | | | For rectal cancer, radiation is often used to help |
| screening. | | | | keep the cancer from returning and allow the |
| Screening tests for colorectal cancer include a | | | | patient to avoid removing the anus to preserve |
| fecal occult blood test, a sigmoidoscopy, a barium | | | | normal bowel function. |
| enema and a colonoscopy. These tests help | | | | * Chemotherapy is medicine designed to help kill |
| doctors look inside your colon and rectum for any | | | | cancer cells. It may be given before or after |
| signs of cancer. If doctors see something unusual, | | | | surgery and often with radiation. |
| they may remove some tissue and examine it | | | | |