Colorectal Cancer Treated by Mercy’s Cancer Doctors

Colon cancer is cancer of the large intestine, also known as the colon. Rectal cancer is cancer in the last few inches of the colon. Colon cancer and rectal cancer together are known as colorectal cancer. Typically colorectal cancer is a slow growing cancer and begins with polyps, an abnormal growth of cells in the colon. The early removal of colon polyps helps with detecting pre-cancerous cells before they become cancerous.

Who is at risk for Colorectal Cancer?

If you are of African American and/or Hispanic descent you are at a higher risk and are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. There is an inherited mutated gene that can cause cancer to develop at an early age in these populations. If you have a family history of colon cancer, you should inform your physician about this.

Colon and rectal cancer hardly ever have symptoms so it is important to get regular colon cancer screenings to detect any irregularities like colon polyps. If colon polyps are found your Mercy physician will remove them by performing a colonoscopy or laparoscopic surgery.

Colorectal cancer symptoms can be similar to those of other digestive diseases. These symptoms may include:

• Change in bowel habits
• Rectal bleeding
• Blood in stool
• Cramps
• Gas
• Pain
• A sense the bowel has not emptied completely
• Fatigue
• Weight loss

Your physician will help you determine the best treatment option for your colon and rectal cancer depending on your diagnosis. Treatment options may include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation as well as targeted drug therapy. Your doctor may include a combination of treatment options or one single treatment option. Clinical trials are also available at Mercy.