1. A very dangerous type of cancer
The three most common types of cancer in the world, are:
- Lung Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Colorectal cancer
There are annually about 228,000 cases of Lung Cancer, 268,000 cases of Breast Cancer and only 145,000 cases of colorectal cancer.
Yet colorectal cancer although less frequent, has the second-highest death rates of all cancers, lung cancer being the highest. Over 51,000 men and women die in the of colorectal cancer each year.
2. Sixty per cent of colorectal cancer deaths could be avoided through screening
According to Fight Colorectal Cancer, 60 percent of colorectal deaths or roughly 30,000 lives could be saved each year if the majority of Americans, particularly those over age 50 regularly be diagnosed by a physician for signs of colorectal cancer.
The good news is that the rate of deaths from colorectal cancer has been going down for several years.
This is attributed to both increased screening by physicians for colorectal cancer, public awareness of the need for such screening, and more effective techniques for dealing with the disease.
The current 5-year survival rate for all colorectal cancers is about 63 per cent, and it is much higher if it is caught at a localized stage.
3. Colorectal cancer is not just for men, and not just for the old
A common myth is that colorectal cancer is only for men. And while approximately 1 in 20 men gets diagnosed with colorectal cancer about 1 in every 24 women overall are diagnosed with colorectal cancer.
Women, when they reach age 45, should follow the same colorectal examination procedures yearly, particularly because for every 5 years, the chance of coming down with colorectal cancer dramatically increases.
It used to be recognized that colorectal cancer screening was recommended for people beginning at age 50, but in the last several years, the fastest-growing group of people coming down with colorectal
cancers were in people in their 30s and 40s.
A theory says that much of the increase in those under 50 coming down with colorectal cancer is due to lack of enough fibre in people’s diets as well as the tremendous amount of obesity.
Doctors are still unsure exactly why colorectal cancer has accelerated in young people but they are positive of the statistics. Rates have increased by nearly 50 percent in those under 50.
4. Many people are asymptomatic
Colorectal cancers have a number of symptoms. These can include:
- Persistent changes such as diarrhea or constipation
- Blood in the stool
- Cramps, gas or paid
- Feeling that your bowel does not empty
- Weakness or Fatigue
The plain fact is, however, that what makes colorectal cancer so devious is that many people, particularly younger people, have no symptoms at all, and it can quickly grow out of control.
5. There are a wide variety of colon and rectal cancer treatments available
There are a number of surgical colorectal cancer treatment available, as well as radiation therapy, chemotherapy and Immunotherapy. Your oncologist will discuss the many pros and cons of available therapies depending upon which stage of cancer you are at.
6. There is hope
There are nearly 1 million colorectal cancer survivors running around at the present time. Having even advanced colorectal cancer does not mean a death sentence, and if you are diagnosed and treated with it, you should ask your doctor lots of questions about a treatment plan to enhance your livability and health, and what you need to do to try and prevent colorectal cancer from returning.
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