At-Home Alternatives to Colonoscopy
Learn more about the screening options for colorectal cancer and decide if an at-home test is right for you.
Due to manufacturing delays, healthcare providers across the U.S. are facing a critical shortage of two chemotherapy medications used to treat cancer. Learn more.
Colorectal cancer basics
Colorectal cancer screening and diagnosis
Colorectal cancer treatment
Nearly all colorectal cancers start as growths called polyps. Doctors try to find polyps with colonoscopies and other screening tests. Some polyps are flat, but most are either dome-shaped or have a head and a stalk. If a polyp contains cancer, the disease can grow into the colon or rectal wall as a malignant tumor.
Someone with colorectal cancer doesn’t “feel” the disease directly, but it can cause a number of symptoms. These signs include abdominal pain or cramping, constipation and the feeling that you still need to go to the bathroom even after a bowel movement. Colorectal cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms right away, though, so it’s important to follow screening guidelines. Learn more about colon cancer or rectal cancer.
Most risk factors for colorectal cancer are not genetic. But some genetic conditions do increase the chance of developing the disease or cause potentially troublesome polyps to form. These conditions are tied to genetic changes inherited from parents. Henry Ford’s Cancer Genetics Program offers testing and counseling for conditions such as:
Approximately four of five colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people 45 and older. Two-thirds of colorectal cancers are diagnosed in those 55 and older. While colorectal cancer in people younger than 45 remains infrequent, diagnoses have increased in recent years among those 20 to 54. Medical professionals do not yet know why colorectal cancer is on the rise in this age group.
Polyps are abnormal growths in the colon or rectum. Certain types of polyps have the potential to become cancerous if left in place. Polyps can:
During colonoscopies, doctors often remove any polyps they find to reduce the risk of the polyps developing into colorectal cancer. Some large or otherwise complex polyps may require surgical removal in a separate procedure.
The techniques for polyp removal during colonoscopy include:
Colonoscopy is the main tool for colorectal cancer screening. For this procedure, you can expect to:
Your doctor will share the results of your colonoscopy with you.
Doctors diagnose colorectal cancer by examining the colon and rectum. They may also order blood tests and imaging. They will also ask you about symptoms. Learn more about colorectal cancer diagnosis.
Surgery is a common treatment for both colon and rectal cancers. Your team may also recommend chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, depending on the specifics of your case. People with rectal cancer often receive these treatments, for various stages of the disease. Chemotherapy and radiation can also treat more advanced colon cancers. Learn more about colorectal cancer treatment.
Doctors hesitate to use the word “curable” when it comes to colorectal cancer. But colorectal cancer can be highly treatable when found early. Doctors measure the success of treatment with the five-year survival rate — the number of people alive five years after diagnosis. For colorectal cancer in 2018:
Learn more about the screening options for colorectal cancer and decide if an at-home test is right for you.
Colorectal cancer screening is the best means to catch pre-cancerous polyps and diagnose colon cancer at its earliest stage, when it’s treatable and curable.
Contact the cancer team 24/7 by calling
We use cookies to improve your web experience. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use. Read our Internet Privacy Statement to learn what information we collect and how we use it.