Introduction
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In the U.S., colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women.
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About 95% of colorectal cancers develop in the glandular cells of the lining.
Risk Factors
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Inherited genes play a large role in the formation of colorectal cancer.
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The two major colorectal cancer susceptibility syndromes are called familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).
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More than 90% of colorectal cancer patients are over the age of 50.
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A person's diet can increase or decrease his risk for colon cancer.
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Obesity and smoking increase the risk for developing colorectal cancer.
Symptoms
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Typically, early-stage colorectal cancers are asymptomatic.
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Later stages can lead to rectal bleeding, blood in the stool, change in bowel movements, and cramping pain in the lower abdomen.
Pathology Report & Staging
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A biopsy of the tissue can be examined for tissue appearance, cellular make up, and abnormalities.
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The T/N/M system is one of the most common methods used for colorectal cancer staging.
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The T/N/M system assigns a degree of severity based on size, location, and spread of the cancer.
Tumor Biology
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Many genetic changes occur in cancer. Details can be found in the Mutation section.
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One of the more common mutations in colorectal cancer occurs in the APC gene which is a tumor suppressor and plays a role in cell signaling.
Treatment
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Early stage treatment involves cancers confined to the colon or rectum.
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Late stage treatment involves tumors that have spread beyond the colon or rectum.
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Treatments can include: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.
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