What is colorectal cancer?
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts in the colon or the rectum. These cancers can also be referred to separately as colon cancer or rectal cancer, depending on where they start. Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many features in common. They are discussed together in this document except for the section about treatment, where they are discussed separately.
What are the key statistics about colorectal cancer?
Excluding skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society's estimates for the number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States for 2013 are:
- 102,480 new cases of colon cancer
- 40,340 new cases of rectal cancer
Overall, the lifetime risk of developing colorectal cancer is about 1 in 20 (5.1%). This risk is slightly lower in women than in men. A number of other factors (described in the section,) might also affect a person's risk for developing colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States when men and women are considered separately, and the second leading cause when both sexes are combined. It is expected to cause about 50,830 deaths during 2013.
The death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people per year) from colorectal cancer has been dropping in both men and women for more than 20 years. There are a number of likely reasons for this. One is that polyps are being found by screening and removed before they can develop into cancers. Screening is also allowing more colorectal cancers to be found earlier when the disease is easier to cure. In addition, treatment for colorectal cancer has improved over the last several years. As a result, there are now more than 1 million survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.
What can Community Hospital-Fairfax offer?
The numbers are in about colorectal cancer. It is among the top 5 leading causes of cancer related deaths in the United States and an expected 102,480 new cases of colon cancer are expected to occur in 2013. Here is another number for you: 1.5. That is the number of hours it takes a patient to receive a life saving colonoscopy at Community Hospital-Fairfax (CH-F).
Trisha Quimby, a registered nurse on CH-F’s surgery team, says that colonoscopy patients are “in and out the door for a colonoscopy in an hour and a half. After a day of rest, they can be back to work the next day.”
An hour and half is such an insignificant amount of time compared to the impact of colon cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 60 percent of colon cancer cases could be prevented if every person over age 50 received annual screenings. The American Cancer Society reports that “Colorectal cancer is often highly treatable. If it’s found and treated early (while it’s small and before it has spread), the 5-year survival rate is about 90 percent.” And do not be mistaken, colon cancer occurs just as often in women as in men.
Community Hospital-Fairfax is committed to preventing colon cancer in our community. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps. Those polyps can be removed with an outpatient endoscopic procedure performed at Community Hospital-Fairfax.
“One of the most rewarding parts of my job is helping to prevent cancer in my patients.” Aron Burke M.D.
If you experience symptoms such as rectal bleeding, change in bowel movements or have a family history of colon cancer, your doctor may suggest a colonoscopy. If you are 50 or older, contact your doctor about regular colorectal screenings. Read more about Colon Cancer Awareness at www.Fairfaxmed.com.
