Key Features100 Questions and Answers about Colorectal CancerDavid Bub, MD, Susannah Rose, MSSW, W. Douglas Wong, MD ▪ The question and answer format mimics an actual physician consultation. ▪ Also, the text is authored by a colorectal cancer survivor and two prominent cancer physicians.
Table of Contents Part 1. The Basics: Understanding the Immune and Circulatory SystemsQuestions 1–10 introduce the immune and circulatory systems, describing their function and involvement in lymphoma through such questions as: Part 1: The BasicsQuestions 1-11 address fundamental questions about the colon and rectum and what occurs when they develop cancer, including: ▪ What is the colon? How does it function? ▪ What is the rectum? Why is it different from the colon? ▪ What is cancer? ▪ What is a colonic polyp? ▪ Are all colorectal cancers fatal? What is my prognosis if I get colorectal cancer?Part 2: Risk and PreventionQuestions 12-17 describe some of the factors that affect an individual's risk of getting colorectal cancer: ▪ What are risk factors for developing colorectal cancer? ▪ If someone in my family has colon cancer, how does that affect my risk? ▪ Do inflammatory bowel diseases cause colorectal cancer? ▪ What can I do to prevent colorectal cancer? Have any medications or vitamins been proven to reduce risk?Part 3: Screening and DiagnosisQuestions 18-27 discuss the techniques used to screen for and diagnose colorectal cancer, including: ▪ How will I know if I have colorectal cancer? ▪ What kind of screening is available, and at what age should I start? ▪ After having a colonoscopy, how long will it take before I know whether the polyp contained cancer or not? Part 4: TreatmentQuestions 28-72 provide an extensive description of therapies for colorectal cancer, including the preoperative workup, surgery, and adjuvant therapies: ▪ What is cancer's stage? How is the stage determined, and why is it important? ▪ What additional tests will I need before surgery? ▪ What kind of preparation will I need for surgery? Will I need to come into the hospital? How should I pack for my hospital stay? ▪ What kind of operation will I need for my colon cancer? How are these operations performed? ▪ What are the risks of surgery? ▪ Will I need a colostomy? ▪ What are the other therapies besides surgery? ▪ What about alternative medicine and homeopathic options? Part 5: Changes Cancer BringsQuestions 73-100 discuss some of the many ways in which colorectal cancer can change your life and the new concerns that might arise, including: ▪ How do I know if I am making the best treatment decisions regarding my newly diagnosed colorectal cancer? ▪ After being diagnosed with cancer, I have had a variety of emotional reactions. Is this normal, or am I going crazy on top of having cancer? ▪ Are there any useful tricks or techniques to help me manage the stress of my diagnosis, upcoming surgery, and possible chemo and radiation? ▪ Who do I tell about my cancer diagnosis, and what do I tell them? ▪ Will I be able to continue working during radiation treatments and chemotherapy? ▪ What is a health care proxy and living will? ▪ Where can I get more information about colorectal cancer?AppendixQuestion 100 is a list of web sites, organizations, and literature to help colorectal cancer patients and their families find additional resources on general and specific topics related to colorectal cancer.GlossaryIndex