{"id":13821,"date":"2025-05-22T15:36:05","date_gmt":"2025-05-22T19:36:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pockethealthqa.wpengine.com\/?p=13821"},"modified":"2025-10-17T12:09:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T16:09:40","slug":"colorectal-cancer-management","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pockethealth.com\/patient-resources\/colorectal-cancer-management\/","title":{"rendered":"Colorectal Cancer Management: What to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed<\/a> cancer in the United States, affecting patients of all sexes. While it is generally diagnosed in older adults, it can also occur in younger individuals. Fortunately, diagnosis rates are beginning to decline thanks to reduced risk through lifestyle changes, improved treatments and better screening techniques.<\/p>\n

This article provides an overview of colorectal cancer, explains the difference between colon and rectal cancers, briefly outlines diagnostic methods and discusses treatment and management strategies.<\/p>\n

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What is colorectal cancer?<\/h2>\n

The term \u201ccolorectal cancer\u201d is often used to refer to either colon or rectal cancer, and it will be used interchangeably throughout this article. The key difference between the two is location: colon cancer occurs in the majority of the large intestine, while rectal cancer is diagnosed only when the cancer is found in the last 12 centimeters of the large intestine, known as the rectum. Both types develop in the large intestine, but they differ based on where the cancer is located within the organ.<\/p>\n

Colorectal cancer develops when cells in the colon or rectum divide and grow out of control. If left untreated, it can interfere with organ function, impact the digestive and waste systems, spread to nearby lymph nodes and potentially reach other parts of the body such as the bones or other organs. In many cases, colorectal cancer begins as a growth called a polyp, which can be an early indicator of the disease. However, not all polyps are cancerous\u2014many are benign. In fact, only about 5 to 10 percent of polyps<\/a> become malignant.<\/p>\n

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Colorectal cancer diagnosis<\/h2>\n
\"CT

Ct scan of a patient\u2019s colon<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

There are several methods used to diagnose colorectal cancer<\/a>, which are often used in combination with each other based on the individual patient’s symptoms and medical history. Below is a brief overview of these diagnostic techniques.<\/p>\n

Blood tests<\/h3>\n

Certain signs of colorectal cancer may be detected through blood tests analyzed in a laboratory. Physicians often order a complete blood count, among other tests, to evaluate overall body function. Some key indicators they look for include:<\/p>\n