March 4, 2003
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
R. Mayer, MD
March is national colorectal cancer awareness month, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute physicians and nurses are encouraging people who are age 50 and older to be screened regularly for the disease.
Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon and rectum, is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and women in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that 57,000 people will die from colorectal cancer this year, and another 147,000 people will be diagnosed with the disease.
"When caught early, colorectal cancer is highly curable," says Robert J. Mayer, MD, director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Oncology at Dana-Farber and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. "It is disheartening to know that the vast majority of colorectal cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented through the use of regular colorectal screenings. Yet, only one of three Americans presently uses these potentially life-saving screening tests."
Age is a major risk factor for colorectal cancer, with people who are age 50 and older accounting for more than 90 percent of new cases. Other risk factors include inflammatory bowel disease, a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps, a low-fiber and high-fat diet, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use.
Colorectal cancer typically starts as small, non-cancerous growths or polyps on the internal lining of the colon or rectum. The use of regular screening tests increases the possibility of detecting - and removing - these polyps while they are still pre-cancerous or early stage cancer, and when they are most treatable.
Common symptoms of colorectal cancer include: traces of blood in the stool, a change in bowel habits, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, and unexplained weight loss. People who experience any of these symptoms should notify their physician immediately.
In addition to undergoing regular screenings, people can reduce their risk of colorectal cancer by eating a balanced diet that places an emphasis on fruits and vegetables, having a physically active lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight, and limiting alcohol consumption.
For more information about colorectal cancer, go to the Dana-Farber web site, www.danafarber.org/colorectal.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), a designated comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute.
