Types of Cancer

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Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly detected cancers in both men and women.

Though no cause other than genetics has yet been identified, it does appear associated with a diet high in saturated fats. Like many cancers, it is also associated with age and is detected most frequently after the age of 50.

Martha Jefferson's five-year survival rate for colon and rectal cancer is superior to state and national averages.

Signs and Symptoms
Most colon cancers develop from benign precancerous polyps, and the removal of these polyps prevents cancer from emerging. Colon cancers progress from polyps without symptoms until they are advanced and cause such symptoms as:

  • change in bowel habit
  • bloody bowel movements
  • abdominal pain
  • weight loss or anemia

How is it diagnosed?
Early detection offers the greatest promise for cure and is therefore the primary goal of the gastrointestinal specialists. Screening colonoscopies may even prevent disease if pre-cancerous polyps are discovered and removed.

How is it treated?
Diagnosis and treatment of colorectal cancer continues to evolve, as do the services offered by the Martha Jefferson Cancer Center. Your treatment will be tailored to your needs, and may include the following:

  • Systemic chemotherapy
  • Biological therapy with drugs such as Erbitux, Vectibix and Avastin which permit targeted tumor cell kill
  • Laparoscopic surgery performed on eligible patients by two board-certified surgeons working as a team
  • Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
  • Access to clinical trials for colon and rectal cancer

Where can I get more information?
You should be sure to ask your doctors for their assessment and recommendations for your particular disease. For more information online, we recommend the following websites:

American Cancer Society American Gastroenterological Association Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons Colon Cancer Alliance MD Anderson Cancer Center United Ostomy Association, Inc.