• Online Scheduling | Careers
Grandview Medical Center
  • Quick Links
    • Find a Doctor
    • Services
      • Services

        • View All Services
        • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
        • Behavioral Health
        • Cancer Care
        • Clinical Trials
        • Digestive Health
        • Emergency Services
        • Heart Care
        • Maternity Care
        • Neurology
        • Orthopedic Services
        • Rehabilitation Services
        • Sleep Disorders Center
        • Surgical Services
        • Women's Health
        • Wound Care
          • Patients & Visitors
            • For Patients

              • Patients & Visitors
              • Admissions
              • Care Card
              • DAISY Award Nominations
              • Directions
              • Financial Information
              • Gift Shop
              • Health Library
              • Online Pre-Registration
              • Online Scheduling
              • Patient Portal
              • Request Medical Records
              • Spiritual Care
              • Visiting Policies & Hours
              • Visitor Information
              • Your Stay
                • Events
                • Locations
                  • Hospitals
                  • Affiliated Medical Practices
                  • Grandview Medical Group
                • About
                  • About

                    • About Us
                    • Awards & Accreditations
                    • Careers
                    • Contact Us
                    • Newsroom
                    • Phone Directory
                    • Quality & Safety
                    • Volunteer Opportunities
                      • (205) 971-1000
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Online Bill Pay
                      • Online Pre-Registration
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Careers
                      • Contact
                      Home/Patients & Visitors/Health Library/Colorectal Health and Cancer

                      Refine Results

                      About Us
                      Events
                      Find a Doctor
                      Locations
                      Notice of Non-Discrimination
                      Patients & Visitors
                      Admissions
                      Care Card
                      DAISY Award Nominations
                      Directions
                      Financial Information
                      Billing & Insurance
                      Billing & Registration FAQ
                      Eligibility Services
                      Financial Assistance Program
                      Online Bill Pay
                      Pricing Information
                      Gift Shop
                      Health Library
                      Online Pre-Registration
                      Online Scheduling
                      Patient Portal
                      Request Medical Records
                      Spiritual Care
                      Visiting Policies & Hours
                      Visitor Information
                      Your Stay
                      Services
                      • information
                      • events
                      • news
                      • Directions

                        Find Our Location
                      • Colleen Tobe-Donohue, D.O., Named President of AAFP

                        07.09.2019

                      • GERD: Diagnosis & Advanced Treatment Options - Free Community Lunch & Learn

                        07.03.2019

                      • See All News & Press Releases

                      Colorectal Health and Cancer

                      More than 140,000 Americans were diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2013. The good news? Advanced screening methods make it easier to discover this cancer in its early, most treatable form.

                      Incidence of colorectal cancer depends on individual risk factors, which can include a history of irritable bowel disease, Type 2 diabetes, racial background and a number of inherited syndromes you have no control over. You do control other risk factors, though, such as smoking, obesity and lack of physical activity. It’s important to talk with your doctor about how your lifestyle and family history factor into your risk for colorectal cancer.

                      A general rule of thumb is that men and women should begin colorectal cancer screenings at age 50, because 90 percent of all new colorectal cancer cases occur after that age, according to the Colon Cancer Alliance. Your doctor may recommend routine screening or increased vigilance because of your risk factors.

                      There are multiple screening techniques that allow doctors to detect cancer or the presence of precancerous polyps, from which colorectal cancer can grow.

                      • Fecal occult blood tests and fecal immunochemical tests involve taking stool samples to identify traces of blood, which can be a sign of cancer or polyps.
                      • Colonoscopy allows doctors to examine the entire colon and rectum. This is the only type of screening that allows doctors to remove polyps as they are found.
                      • Sigmoidoscopy enables doctors to view the rectum and lower colon for signs of cancer and polyps.
                      • Computed tomography colonography and double contrast barium enemas can accurately find polyps before they develop into cancer.

                      Many symptoms of colorectal cancer can also be caused by other conditions, such as hemorrhoids, infection or inflammatory bowel disease, according to the National Institutes of Health. Because colorectal cancer is more easily cured when detected early, you should see your doctor if you experience any of the following:

                      • Abdominal pain or cramping
                      • Blood in your stool, bleeding from your rectum or dark stool
                      • Constipation, diarrhea or narrow stool lasting more than a couple of days
                      • Persistent feeling that a bowel movement is necessary, even after having one
                      • Unexplained weakness or fatigue

                      If your doctor finds cancer, there are several commonly used treatment options that can be highly effective, depending on how advanced the disease is. Surgery is the most common form of treatment, and your doctor may also incorporate chemotherapy, radiation or a number of investigational therapies.

                      The best type of colorectal screening depends on your family medical history and lifestyle. Speak with your doctor about your risk factors and what screening is right for you.

                      Back

                      Grandview Medical Center

                      • 3690 Grandview Parkway
                      • Birmingham, AL 35243
                      • P: (205) 971-1000
                      • F: (205) 971-5653

                      • Terms & Conditions
                      • Privacy Policy
                      • Notice of Privacy Practices
                      • Patient Rights & Responsibilities

                      © Copyright 2019 . All rights reserved.

                       

                      Services

                      • Bariatric Weight Loss Services
                      • Behavioral Health
                      • Cancer Care
                      • Clinical Trials
                      • Digestive Health
                      • Emergency Services
                      • Heart Care
                      • Maternity Care
                      • Neurology
                      • Orthopedic Services
                      • Rehabilitation Services
                      • Sleep Disorders Center
                      • Surgical Services
                      • Women's Health
                      • Wound Care

                      Patients & Visitors

                      • Admissions
                      • Care Card
                      • DAISY Award Nominations
                      • Directions
                      • Financial Information
                      • Gift Shop
                      • Health Library
                      • Online Pre-Registration
                      • Online Scheduling
                      • Patient Portal
                      • Request Medical Records
                      • Spiritual Care
                      • Visiting Policies & Hours
                      • Visitor Information
                      • Your Stay

                      About Us

                      • Awards & Accreditations
                      • Careers
                      • Contact Us
                      • Newsroom
                      • Phone Directory
                      • Quality & Safety
                      • Volunteer Opportunities

                      Notice of Nondiscrimination
                      • English,
                      • አማርኛ,
                      • العربية,
                      • বাংলা,
                      • ျမန္မာဘာသာ,
                      • tsalagi gawonihisdi,
                      • 繁體中文,
                      • Chahta,
                      • Oroomiffa,
                      • Nederlands,
                      • Français,
                      • Kreyòl Ayisyen,
                      • Deutsch,
                      • ગુજરાતી,
                      • हिंदी,
                      • Hmoob,
                      • Igbo asusu,
                      • Ilokano,
                      • Italiano,
                      • 日本語,
                      • 한국어,
                      • Ɓàsɔ́ɔ̀‑wùɖù‑po‑nyɔ̀,
                      • ພາສາລາວ,
                      • Kajin Ṃajōḷ,
                      • ខ្មែរ,
                      • Diné Bizaad,
                      • नेपाली,
                      • Deitsch,
                      • فارسی,
                      • Polski,
                      • Português,
                      • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
                      • Română,
                      • Русский,
                      • Gagana fa'a Sāmoa,
                      • Srpsko‑hrvatski,
                      • Español,
                      • ܣܘܼܪܸܬ݂,
                      • Tagalog,
                      • ภาษาไทย,
                      • Türkçe,
                      • Українська,
                      • اُردُو,
                      • Tiếng Việt,
                      • èdè Yorùbá
                      Loading... Loading...