The
colon and the rectum are parts of the digestive
system. They form a long, muscular tube called the
large intestine (large bowel). The colon is the
first 4 to 5 feet of the large intestine, and the
rectum is the last several inches. Partly digested
food enters the colon from the small intestine. The
colon removes water and nutrients from the food and
turns the rest into waste (stool). The waste passes
from the colon into the rectum and then out of the
body through the anus.
Cancer of the colon
or rectum is called colorectal cancer. In the United
States, it is the fourth most common cancer in men
and women. The lifetime risk of developing
colorectal cancer is 6% for both men and women.
The
American Cancer Society estimates that about 112,340
new cases of colon cancer (55,290 men and 57,050
women) and 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer (23,840
men and 17,580 women) will be diagnosed in 2007.
Colorectal
cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related
deaths in the United States and is expected to cause
about 52,180 deaths (26,000 men and 26,180 women)
during 2007..
Approximately two-thirds of
patients with colorectal cancer will present with
potentially curable disease (either with surgery
alone or in combination with other strategies such
as chemotherapy and radiation). Of these, 30-40%
will relapse with metastatic disease.
The
number of deaths from colorectal cancer has been
dropping for the past 15 years. There are a number
of likely reasons for this. One probable reason 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 10 years, allowing for more
effective options for people with this diagnosis.
Because of this, there are around 1 million
survivors of colorectal cancer in the United States.
The majority of deaths (75%) from colorectal cancer
occur in persons older that 65 years of age.
Signs
and symptoms of colorectal cancer may include:
Hematochezia (bloody stools)
Melena (black, tarry stools)
Weight loss
Change in bowel habits (persistent
constipation or diarrhea, or change in stool
size)
Fatigue
Vomiting
Discomfort in the abdomen or rectum
Treatment of colorectal cancer depends on the
location and stage of disease at the time of
diagnosis and the patients overall condition and
co-existing medical conditions. Treatment options
include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted (biological)
therapy, radiation therapy or a combination of these
treatments.
The 5-year relative survival
rate for persons whose colorectal cancer is treated
in an early stage is greater than 90%.
Unfortunately, only 39% of colorectal cancers are
found at an early stage. Once the cancer has spread
to nearby organs or lymph nodes, the 5-year relative
survival rate goes down, and if cancer has spread to
distant organs (i.e., the liver or lung) the 5-year
survival is less than 10%
Hospitals Listing
Raffles Hospital
{Singapore}
Raffles Hospital is a 380-bed, tertiary care hospital and the
flagship hospital of the Raffles
Gleneagles Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
{Malaysia}
Gleneagles Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur
Lilawati Hospital
Mumbai
{India}
Batra Hospital
New Delhi
{India}
The
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