Colon & Rectal Cancers

Most cases of colorectal cancer develop from noncancerous (benign) polyps, which over time, can develop into cancer. During the early stages of the disease, symptoms may be minor or even non-existent, which is why doctors recommend regular colorectal cancer screening tests after the age of 50 for most people.

As with most other cancers, colorectal cancer doesn’t always come with obvious signs and symptoms until the disease has spread to a more advanced stage. This is why it’s important to understand your family history and talk with your primary care physician about scheduling regular colorectal cancer screening.

If the biopsy shows that cancer is present, your doctor will need to know the extent, or stage, of the disease in order to plan the best treatment. The stage is based on whether the tumor has invaded nearby tissues, whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to what parts of the body.

The choice of treatment depends mainly on the location of the tumor in the colon or rectum and the stage of the disease. Treatment for colorectal cancer may involve surgery, chemotherapy, biological therapy, or radiation therapy. Some people have a combination of treatments.

When it comes to colon and rectal (colorectal) cancer, research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop the disease. While some factors like diet and lifestyle choices can be controlled, others, such as age and family history cannot.

Most colon and rectal (colorectal) cancers are not considered hereditary in, meaning that it isn't passed down from one family member to another. Research indicates that an inherited gene mutation causes only about 5% of all colorectal cancers. The remaining 95% are caused by a mutation of a gene acquired during a person's lifetime (non-genetic).

Clinical research for the treatment of colorectal cancer has brought many new therapies to patients with colon and rectal cancer over the past two decades. Creating new and better ways to treat colorectal cancer is exactly why Cancer Care Centers of Brevard is dedicated to actively participating in clinical trials for colon and rectal cancers.

Life after colorectal cancer can bring a mixture of feelings moving forward, but one of the most important things to do for yourself is develop a survivorship plan. Follow-up care for colorectal cancer survivors is very important and can last for several years after treatment is complete. Not only will your cancer care team keep an eye on any new cancer development, they can also help you with side effect management.