As your trusted Orange County cancer treatment center, Orange County CyberKnife strives to help arm you with the facts about cancer. The more you understand cancer and its associated risk factors, the better you can prevent a cancer diagnosis from popping up in your future. Because March is Colorectal Cancer Month, the team at OC CyberKnife is here to arm you with some helpful facts about the disease and help you learn what you can do to help prevent it, as well as what your options are should you be diagnosed.

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Colorectal cancer is the third most common form of cancer among both men and women and occurs in the latter areas of the digestive tract. This type of cancer is especially common among adults over the age of 50, and without regular cancer screenings it can be particularly difficult to detect, as it often carries no obvious signs or symptoms. Like all cancer, it can be deadly, however if you are able to catch it in its early stages, it is typically treatable. A few symptoms you may notice, however, are:

• blood in your stool
• rectal bleeding
• bloating & general discomfort in the abdominal area
• changes in bowel movements
• unexplained anemia or weight loss
• general fatigue

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it’s crucial to speak to your doctor as soon as possible in order for them to perform further testing. Remember: the earlier you are able to detect colorectal cancer, the easier and more effective treatment will be.

Colorectal Cancer Facts & Statistics

Each year, roughly 130,000 new cases of colorectal cancer are diagnosed in the United States. Though it can develop at any point in a person’s life, over 90% of colorectal cancer patients are over the age of 50, but those with a previous history of colon polyps, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s Disease are at an elevated risk. Drinking alcohol, smoking, obesity, as well as having a diet high in red meat and low in fruits and vegetables will also put you at higher risk for colorectal cancer.

CyberKnife Colorectal Cancer Surgery

In the unfortunate event that you find yourself with a colorectal cancer diagnoses, remember there are treatment options available to you. At Orange County CyberKnife, we specialize in using CyberKnife Radiosurgery for colorectal cancer treatment. Though we may refer to it as CyberKnife colorectal cancer surgery, CyberKnife is unique in that it requires no actual cutting or incisions. Your colorectal cancer treatment can be performed via CyberKnife with the use of high dosage radiation beamed with precision accuracy directly to the tumor. This means more accurate and effective treatment, and less damage to surrounding, healthy cells. Best of all, there is often little to no side-effects following the procedure and no recovery time, which offers a better quality of life for you during your colorectal cancer treatment.

Schedule a Visit with Your Colorectal Cancer Surgery & Treatment Experts

At Orange County CyberKnife, we are dedicated to helping you battle cancer at any stage. As a premier cancer treatment center in Orange County, we are here to offer both hope and solutions to your cancer diagnosis. It’s our goal to bring individualized treatment plans to the table for each patient in order to improve their quality of life while undergoing cancer treatment. If you’ve been diagnosed with colorectal cancer — or any other type of cancer — and would like to understand your options, please contact us today. We would be happy to offer a second opinion, or simply speak to you about available treatments. Give us a call at (714) 962-7100 to schedule your appointment today. We look forward to helping you live a healthier, cancer-free life.