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Q: What is colorectal cancer?
A: Cancer is an abnormal and uncontrolled growth of cells in the body. "Colorectal" refers to the
colon and rectum, which together make up the
large intestine. Colorectal cancer can originate anywhere in the large intestines. The majority of colorectal cancers develop first as
polyps, abnormal growths inside the colon or rectum that may become cancerous.
Q: How does colorectal cancer
affect the U.S. population?
A: In 2002, the American Cancer Society estimates that 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and 56,600 people will die of this cancer in the United States.
Q: Who gets colorectal cancer?
A: Here are some facts about colorectal cancer risk:
Q: What are the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?
A: Colorectal cancer develops with few, if any, symptoms at first. However, if symptoms are present,
they may include the following:
If you have any of these symptoms, discuss them with your doctor. Many other health problems can cause these symptoms, too. Only your doctor, through testing, can tell you why you might have these symptoms.
Q: What are the screening tests for colorectal cancer?
A: Unlike for many other cancers, there are several screening tests that check for colorectal cancer. The
tests that are currently used alone or in combination with each other are
Double Contrast Barium Enema. A procedure that involves taking X-rays of the rectum and colon after a patient is given an enema containing a dye (barium),
followed by an injection of air. The barium outlines the intestine on the x-ray film, so that many polyps and other abnormalities are visible
Q: What is the insurance coverage for colorectal
cancer screening?
A: Check with your health insurance provider to
determine your colorectal cancer screening benefits. Many insurance plans help pay for screening tests for people aged 50 years and older. Many plans also help pay for screening tests for people under 50 who are at
greater than average risk for colorectal cancer.
Q: What are the Medicare Preventive Service
Benefits for colorectal cancer screening?
A: If you are covered by Medicare, you may be
eligible to receive colorectal cancer screening benefits. For more information about Medicare, call the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (formerly Health Care Financing Administration) at 1-800-633-4221 or
visit http://www.medicare.gov/.
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