Colorectal Cancer: A Review of Disease Diagnosis, Surgical Intervention and Treatment Procedures

Abstract

Colorectal cancer, also known as bowel or colon cancer is associated with colon or rectum sections of the intestine. Globally, more than 1 million people are affected by colorectal cancer every year and have been the cause for death in about 715,000 in 2010. As of 2012, it is the second most common cause of cancer in women (9.2% of diagnoses) and the third most common in men (10.0%). It also accounts for the fourth most common cause of cancer death after lung, stomach, and liver cancer. Colorectal cancer develops mostly during aging and as a reason of increasing lifestyle disorders as well as rarely through genetic heredity. Hence, this grows immense interest in the diagnosis, cure, genetic counseling and general awareness about the disease. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, either individually or carried out in conjecture, seems to be the best treatment for the disease. Assessment of risk factors is very important in the early detection of the disease. This review aims to compile broadly the available knowledge on the causes of colorectal cancer, the methods for prevention, therapy or treatment of the disease and the guidelines for genetic counseling and general awareness. It also helps in understanding the risk factors in the development of disease.