Colorectal Cancer:

It happens when abnormal cells grow in the lining of the large intestine (also called the colon) or rectum. This is a common cancer in both men and women. It has the second highest rate of cancer deaths in the U.S. It doesn’t have early warning signs, so it's important to get screened. Finding it early means it's more curable. As the disease gets worse, you may see blood in your stool or have pain in your belly, a change in bowel habits (like constipation or diarrhea), unexplained weight loss, or fatigue. By the time these symptoms appear, tumors tend to be bigger and harder to treat.
How to detect early - 1. Screening tests are key to finding it early. Starting at age 50, most people should have a colonoscopy every 10 years. This test uses a tube with a tiny camera to look at the whole colon and rectum. It not only finds tumors early, but can also prevent colorectal cancer by removing polyps
2. Flexible Sigmoidoscopy - Instead of a colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy uses a slender tube to look inside your rectum and the bottom part of your colon. The tube has a light and a camera and shows polyps and cancer. If your doctor says this is the right test for you, you should get one every 5 years.
3. Fecal Blood Tests - The fecal occult blood test and fecal immunochemical test can show whether you have blood in your stool, which can be a sign of cancer. If your doctor says one of the fecal blood tests is right for you, you should take it every year.
The Stages of Colorectal Cancer
Experts "stage" any cancers they find -- a process to see how far the cancer has spread. Higher stages mean you have a more serious case of cancer. Tumor size doesn’t always make a difference. Staging also helps your doctor decide what type of treatment you get.
• Stage 0 -- Cancer is only in the innermost lining of the colon or rectum.
• Stage I -- Cancer has grown into the muscle layer of the colon or rectum.
• Stage II -- Cancer has grown into or through the outermost layer of the colon or rectum.
• Stage III -- Cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes in the area.
• Stage IV -- Cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lung, or bones.
The outlook for your recovery depends on the stage of your cancer. The “5-year survival rate” means the percentage of people who live 5 years or more after being diagnosed. Stage I has a 74% 5-year survival rate, while stage IV has a 5-year survival rate of only 6%.
Treatment
Treatment typically involves surgery, radiation , and chemotherapy. If the cancer comes back or spreads to other organs, it will probably be harder to cure. But radiation and chemotherapy may still reduce symptoms and help you live longer. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) uses intense heat to burn away tumors. Guided by a CT scan, a doctor inserts a needle-like device into a tumor and the surrounding area. RFA can destroy some tumors that can’t be surgically removed, like in the liver. Chemotherapy can work with RFA.
How to prevent
You can take steps to dramatically lower your odds of getting colorectal cancer. Eat a nutritious diet, get enough exercise, and control your body fat. Those habits prevent 45% of colorectal cancers. Take a diet heavy on fruits and vegetables, light on processed and red meat, and with whole grains instead of refined grains. That will help you keep a healthy weight. Adults who stay active seem to have a powerful weapon against colorectal cancer. Exercising 5 or more days a week for at least 30 minutes a day or Vigorous exercise -- 20 minutes 3 or 4 days a week can provide you protection from this cancer. more