About Colorectal Cancer
Cancer Treatment Experts in Los Angeles, CA
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with cancer, you understand how difficult and trying an experience it is – and why you need a dedicated team of experts on your side to help you beat it. At Pasadena CyberKnife, we’re proud to provide world-class cancer treatment and radiation therapy from our state-of-the-art cancer treatment facility in Pasadena, CA. We believe that there’s always hope no matter how serious the condition, and we work with patients to treat almost any form of cancer – including colorectal cancer.
What Is Colorectal Cancer?
Colorectal cancer refers to any cancerous growth or tumor that forms in the colon or the rectum. A patient may have either colon cancer or rectal cancer, but both of these conditions share many features and are therefore referred to under the same name. Colorectal cancer is further classified based on the type of cell in which the cancer starts.
While there are several types of less-common colorectal cancer including carcinoid tumors, gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs), lymphomas, and sarcomas, the most common type of colorectal cancer by far is adenocarcinoma. Adenocarcinomas make up roughly 95% percent of colorectal cancer cases, and they start in the cells that make mucus to lubricate the colon.
What Causes Colorectal Cancer?
Scientists aren’t sure exactly what causes colorectal cancer, but there are a number of risk factors that can increase a person’s likelihood of developing colorectal cancer in their lifetime. Some of the most common risk factors include being overweight or obese, chronic physical inactivity, diets high in red meat, smoking, and heavy alcohol use.
While the exact causes aren’t known, the vast majority of colorectal cancer cases begin as a precancerous growth called a polyp, which forms on the inside of the colon. Not all polyps become cancer, but some polyps can change into cancer over a period of years. If dysplasia is found in the polyp, which refers to cells in the polyp looking abnormal, it’s more likely that the polyp will morph into cancer.
One of the best ways to fight colorectal cancer is through early detection and treatment, and for this reason, anyone over 50 should receive a colonoscopy screening at least once every 10 years. These preventive screenings allow us to catch colorectal cancer before it develops to severely, and often, we can find precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer and remove them before they cause a problem. You should talk with your doctor to determine the ideal frequency of cancer screening based on your own personal medical history and risk factors.
Contact Your Los Angeles Radiation Therapy Clinic
Whether you’ve been diagnosed with a polyp, early cancer, or even advanced colorectal cancer, we at Pasadena CyberKnife believe one things above all else: there is always hope. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you beat cancer and to schedule a treatment consultation. We’ll work with you to design a treatment plan that fits into your lifestyle and help you start on the road towards complete recovery.