Colorectal Cancer
The best treatment for colorectal cancer is to remove it before it even develops. Healthy adults should get screened once every ten years, starting at age 45. The recommendation for those with a family history or other risk factors varies but is typically every five years, starting at an earlier age.
Be Seen & Get Screened
Colorectal cancer is cancer that affects the large intestine, also known as the colon, or the rectum. The word "colorectal" is just a shortened way of saying colon and rectal.
Not including skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in the U.S. It affects 1 in 20 people. It has very few symptoms, which is why screening is so important. Colorectal cancer might not cause any symptoms at first. When symptoms appear, they can include:
- Stomach pain
- A change in your bowel movements (number, texture, or size)
- Blood in your bowel movements
- Feeling weak or tired
Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death among men and women combined in the United States.
Guidelines for colorectal cancer screening:
- Starting at age 45, both men and women should have a colorectal screening. (People with an inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colon or rectal cancer may be at a higher risk and should begin testing earlier.)
- Most insurance plans, including the Affordable Care Act, cover colorectal cancer screening tests. Ask your insurance company what you should expect.
- Regular screenings can find colon cancer early, when treatment is most effective. The five-year survival rate is 90% if cancer is detected early.
Screening appointments can be made by contacting your primary care physician. Don’t have one?
Call CMC's Primary Care Access Line and we will help you get started: 603.314.4750
Why choose CMC?
Our surgeons, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and support staff bring extensive expertise and skill to each procedure, and take a personal interest in your well-being.
Minimally Invasive Laparoscopic Procedures
In cases where surgery is necessary minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic assisted da Vinci® Surgical System procedures are available. Minimally invasive procedures allow for less pain and quicker recovery. These same methods can be used in cases where cancer is found; however, a biopsy would be performed first to determine the stage and type of cancer. The stage and the pathology tells whether surgery will suffice or whether further treatment, like chemotherapy or radiation, is necessary.
Colorectal Cancer Screening: Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy is an exam used to detect changes or abnormalities in the large intestine and rectum. Most pre-cancerous polyps can be removed at the time of the colonoscopy through a polyectomy. Even larger polyps, which carry a higher risk for cancer, can be removed in the outpatient setting through a procedure called endoscopic mucosal resection.
Understanding Screenings: It's Time
If you are 45 or older, it's time for you to have a colonoscopy. Don't wait for symptoms—there may not be any. But, with early detection, colorectal cancer is largely preventable and treatable.
Talk to your primary care provider about scheduling your colonoscopy or call NH Gastroenterology at 603.625.5744.