• Diseases & Conditions
• Tests & Procedures
• Healthy Recipes
• Herbs, Vitamins, & Supplements
• Wellness Library
• News
• Centers
• Multimedia

Health Information

Overview

• The Digestive System: An Overview
  

  Detailed information on how the digestive system works, including a full-color, labeled illustration of the digestive system

• What Is Colorectal Cancer?
  
• Colorectal Cancer
  

  Most people who have colorectal cancer are older than 50. This type of cancer is also associated with a diet high in fat and calories and low in fiber.

• Am I At Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
  

  Some risk factors are out of a person's control, such as his or her age or family history. However, some risk factors — like diet and exercise — are factors a person can control.

• What Are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
  

  Symptoms include a change in bowel habits; bright red or very dark blood in the stool; stools that are thinner than usual; stools that appear slimy or that have a mucous film on them; persistent gas pains, bloating, fullness, and/or cramps; unexplained weight loss; constant tiredness; vomiting

• Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (FAP)
  

  FAP is a syndrome characterized by a large number of benign polyps in the colon and rectum. Without treatment, a person with FAP has a nearly 100 percent risk of colorectal cancer.

• Other Colorectal Cancer Syndromes
  

  Several rare syndromes raise the risk for colorectal cancer. These disorders include Turcot syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis coli, and MYH-associated polyposis.

• Can I Get Checked for Colorectal Cancer Before I Have Symptoms?
  

  People who have any colorectal cancer risk factors should talk to their doctor or nurse about when they should start checking for colorectal cancer and what tests they should have done.

• Carcinoid Tumor
  

  Carcinoid tumor is a rare type of tumor that grows slowly.

• What Can I Do if I Am at Risk for Colorectal Cancer?
  
• Paying for Colorectal Screening Tests
  
• Ovarian Cancer as Part of Lynch Syndrome
  

  A woman with this type of hereditary colon cancer is at increased risk for ovarian cancer.