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Colorectal Cancer
What is the Impact of Colorectal Cancer in the U.S. and Idaho?
- Colorectal (colon and rectum) cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. and Idaho behind lung cancer.
- Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer for men and women.
- From 2000-2005, 3,440 Idahoans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer and there were 1,185 deaths frm colorectal cancer.
- The American Cancer Society Cancer Facts and Figures, 2007, projected that in 2007, approximately 53,000 Americans would die from colorectal cancer, accounting for nearly 10 percent of all cancer deaths, and nearly 154,000 people would be newly diagnosed.
- Cancer stage at diagnosis is the strongest predictor of survival. When found at localized stage, the five year survival rate is about 85 percent. For regional and distant stage cases, the five year survival rates are about 67 percent and 10 precent respectively.
What are the Costs of Colorectal Cancer?
- When detected early, treatment cost for colorectal cancer is about $30,000 per patient. Treatment cost for a patient with late stage colorectal cancer is estimated at $120,000.
- The National Cancer Institute estimates that treatment expenditures in the U.S. in 2004 reached $8.4 billion.
Who Gets Colorectal Cancer?
- The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age and 90 percent of cases occur in men and women aged 50 and over.
- In 2005, more men were diagnosed with colorectal cancer than women (322 cases vs. 279) but more women died from the disease (115 women vs. 92 men).
- Genetic conditions account for only about 15 percent of colorectal cancer cases.
What Else Contributes to Increased Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
- Strong evidence shows that high calorie diets and diets high in fat and low in fiber contribute to increased risk.
- Physical inactivity, obestity, and tobacco use are known risk factors for colorectal cancer.
- Inflammatory bowel disease increases the risk for colorectal cancer.
What Can a Person Do to Decrease Their Risk of Colorectal Cancer?
- A person can potentially reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by consuming a low calorie, low fat and high fiber diet; by losing weight; by quitting smoking and by getting more physical activity in their daily lives.
- A person can reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by getting regularly screened for colorectal cancer by a health care provider.
Can Colorectal Cancer be Found Early?
Regular screening for colorectal cancer can often find it early, when it is most likely to be curable. In many cases, screening can also prevent colorectal cancer altogether. This is because some polyps, or growths, can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer.
Are There Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer
Screening is the process of looking for cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease. There are several different tests that can be used to screen for colorectal cancer.
- Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- The fecal immunochemical test (FIT)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy
- Colonoscopy
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy)
- The double-contrast barium enema (DCBE)
If you have any specific questions about colorectal cancer screening tests, please contact your healthcare provider or the American Cancer Society.
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