Colorectal Cancer

Welcome to PT 635 Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems This is a wiki created by and for the students in the School of Physical Therapy at Bellarmine University in Louisville KY. Please do not edit unless you are involved in this project, but please come back in the near future to check out new information!!

Original Editors - Jacqueline Lopez & Abby Schnur from Bellarmine University's Pathophysiology of Complex Patient Problems project.

Lead Editors - Your name will be added here if you are a lead editor on this page.  Read more.

Definition/Description

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a rapid abnormal cell growth that affects the large intestines and/or rectum. These clusters of cells are called adenomatous polyps and develop from the tissue membrane of glandular tissue. Polyps can start as benign and non-cancerous but with time can develop and become cancerous.

Prevalence

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from a type of cancer in the United States. It is also the third most common cancer among men and women. The most current statistics report 136,717 people were diagnosed in 2009 with colorectal cancer (51.26% male and 48.63% female) and 51,848 deaths (51.7% male and 48.3% female) according to the Center of Disease Control.

Data from 2009 provided by the National Cancer Institute showed that prior to January 1, 2009 1,140,161 people were living with a diagnosis of CRC in the United States. This number includes people both, currently seeking treatment for their active diagnosis, as well as, individuals who have been in years of remission. 558,648 of these individuals were male and 581,477 were female.

Other statistical facts gathered from various sources include the following:

• The lifetime risk of developing CRC is 1/20 or 4.96%. http://www.cancer.org/cancer/colonandrectumcancer/overviewguide/colorectal-cancer-overview-key-statistics
  
• The mean age of CRC diagnosis is 69 years of age. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
• The mean mortality age of CRC is 74 years of age. http://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/colorect.html
• Studies between 1991 and 2005 show that survival rates from CRC have increased by 30%. http://www.cancercare.org/publications/28-medical_update_on_colorectal_cancer_understanding_kras
• The risk of getting CRC increases with age and is greater in men than women. http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/statistics/age.htm
• The most common area of diagnosis is the rectum and the rectosigmoid junction, with the sigmoid resulting the most favorable outcome.

Characteristics/Clinical Presentation

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Associated Co-morbidities

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Medications

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Diagnostic Tests/Lab Tests/Lab Values

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Etiology/Causes

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Systemic Involvement

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Medical Management (current best evidence)

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Physical Therapy Management (current best evidence)

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Alternative/Holistic Management (current best evidence)

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Differential Diagnosis

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Case Reports/ Case Studies

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Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)

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