Early Detection and New Treatments Help Save Lives
By Chainarong Limvarapuss, M.D., an oncologist on staff at Sutter Solano Medical Center, a member of the Solano Coalition for Better Health.
Although colorectal cancer still claims 49,920 lives every year in the United States, more patients than ever before are surviving the disease. There are two main reasons for this good news—more people are getting screened for colorectal cancer and treatment has improved.
Risk Factors and Screenings
Symptoms of colorectal cancer don’t usually appear until the cancer has advanced to the later stages. That is why screening to detect the disease is so important. I typically recommend a first colonoscopy at age 40 for people with a family history of colorectal cancer and additional screenings every three to five years.
If the disease does not run in your family, I encourage a first colonoscopy at age 50. How frequently you need follow-up screenings depends on your initial results. More than 90 percent of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people older than 50.
In addition to family history and age, other risk factors you can’t control include race, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease and gender. Men have a slightly higher risk of developing colorectal cancer than women. African Americans have the highest risk for the disease and the highest number of deaths from it. But there are ways you can minimize your risk. Sticking to a low-fat diet, exercising regularly, not smoking and limiting alcohol consumption can help to protect your health.
If you are diagnosed after experiencing symptoms, you are likely at Stage 2 or higher. The cure rate is about 80 percent at this point. Roughly half of those diagnosed at Stage 3 will survive with appropriate treatment. Stage 4 cure rates are lower, but advances in treatment have increased survivorship even when diagnosed at that late stage.
Treatment
If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the first treatment step is usually removing the primary tumor. In some cases, radiation and chemotherapy are used to shrink the tumor―reducing tissue damage and the risk of complications during surgery. The type of treatment you receive after surgery depends on your particular risk for cancer reoccurrence. Stage 3 and 4 patients will need chemotherapy. However, 70 percent of Stage 2 patients won’t need chemotherapy follow-up.
Seven highly effective prescription drugs are now available to treat colorectal cancer patients. Just a few years ago, there was only one drug available and its effectiveness rate was only 20 to 25 percent. More drugs are currently in the testing phase that may help patients live longer and improve their quality of life.
Know the Signs
Call your doctor promptly if you experience any of the following symptoms of colorectal cancer, which often develop at Stage 2 or later:
• Rectal bleeding
• Stomach discomfort
• Loss of appetite
• Persistent stomach bloating
• Anemia
Remember, the sooner the cancer is detected the greater your chances of survival with less invasive treatments.
