Colon Cancer (All Correct Answers)

Colorectal Cancer Correct Answers •Third most common cancer in men and women. •Cancer death rate decreasing -Increased cancer screening and polyp removal •More common in age 50 or The three most important risk factors with colon cancer Correct Answers •Personal or Family Hx of colorectal cancer or polyps. •Hx of inflammatory bowel disease •Age Other risk factors Correct Answers •Alcohol. •African Americans •Radiation treatment in abdominal area •Longer bowel transit time •Obesity •Low fiber, high fat diets •Smoking •Physical inactivity Liver Correct Answers most common site of metastasis Pathophysiology Correct Answers •Majority of colorectal cancers are adenocarcinomas •Polyps are precursor •Spread by direct extension and through lymphatics •2/3 of cancers are in the recto sigmoidal region Dukes Staging Correct Answers Stages A-D & A is the earliest stage STAGE A=Small limited to bowel (muscular mucosa), no lymph nodes or metastasis Prognosis Correct Answers •The stage of cancer at diagnosis is the most important variable affecting prognosis! •Duke's Stage A- very survivable if caught in the earliest stage!!! -90 -100% five-year survival rate Clinical Manifestations: The most common presenting symptom is a Correct Answers •Change in bowel habits -Pencil thin stool, diarrhea, constipation, straining at stool (tenesmus) •Blood in the stool -Occult- blood not seen in the stool -Melena (black tarry stool)