Cancer CONNECTION Day
Spotlight Colorectal Cancers / Covering the Cost of Care
March 11, 2009 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Galter Pavilion 21st floor Conference Room
675 N. St. Clair
No charge-all are welcome
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What is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer - cancer of the colon or rectum - is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. In 2005, more than 53,000 people in the United States died of colorectal cancer (26,781 men and 27,259 women).

Colorectal cancer also is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the United States. In 2005, more than 141,000 people in the United States were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (72,007 men and 69,398 women), making it the third most common cancer in men and in women.

Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention
A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chance of developing cancer. Some risk factors can be controlled, such as smoking, and some cannot be controlled, such as age and family history. Although risk factors can influence the development of cancer, most do not directly cause cancer. Some people with several risk factors never develop cancer, while others with no known risk factors do. However, knowing your risk factors and communicating them to your doctor may help you make more informed lifestyle and health-care choices.
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Symptoms
These and other symptoms may be caused by colon cancer. Other conditions may cause the same symptoms. A doctor should be consulted if any of the following problems occur:

• A change in bowel habits
• Blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool
• Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• Stools that are narrower than usual
• Frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness, or cramps
• Weight loss for no known reason
• Feeling very tired
• Vomiting

Colon Cancer Screening
Regular screening is the best way to find colon cancer early. Some screening tests may even be able to prevent colorectal cancer entirely, by finding certain types of polyps in the colon that could become cancerous.
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Minorities and Colorectal Cancer
Alaska Natives and American Indians, African-Americans and Hispanics are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in advanced stages. As a result, the percentage of minorities who die of colorectal cancer is higher than for Caucasians.
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