With more than 108,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 40,000 new cases of rectal cancer, colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in men and women in the United States and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The symptoms can remain undetected for many years and in most cases will develop quite slowly. However, as a result of better detection and treatment, the death rate from colorectal cancer has been dropping. Caught early, colorectal cancer is often curable.
The new assessment tool is designed for people 50 years of age and older and based on data collected from two large US population-based case control studies of colon and rectal cancer, data from 13 NCI Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result Registries (SEER data), and the US national mortality rates.
How it works
The Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool uses the respondent’s answers about risk and preventive factors to calculate that person’s absolute risk for developing colorectal cancer for a specific time period. The online test is interactive, simple and straightforward and takes only 5-8 minutes to complete. After answering the questions, the tool will calculate an individual’s risk for colorectal cancer.
To validate the accuracy, the model was tested in a large population. The results show that the tool is accurate in predicting absolute risk. Because the majority of participants in the case-control studies were non-Hispanic white males and females, relative risks for other racial or ethnic groups could not be estimated. Researchers are in the process of updating the tool by using SEER rates for minority populations to allow the tool to produce more accurate results for men and women in these populations. When available, the expanded functionality will include additional ages and racial/ethnic groups.
The risk calculator will be updated periodically as new data or research become available. In addition, the tool may prove useful to researchers who are designing research intervention studies.
Man and Women
To help assess the risk for, the tool is gender specific. For men, the model included a cancer-negative sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy in the last 10 years, polyp history in the last 10 years, a history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relatives, use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), cigarette smoking, body mass index (BMI), current leisure-time vigorous activity, and vegetable consumption.
For women, the model included sigmoidoscopy/colonoscopy, polyp history, a history of colorectal cancer in a first-degree relatives, aspirin and NSAID use, BMI, leisure-time vigorous activity, vegetable consumption, hormone-replacement therapy (HRT), and estrogen exposure on the basis of menopausal status.
Better Understanding
The tool is designed to assist health care providers in counseling their patients. A better understanding of the risk will help patients and their doctor make more informed choices about how to screen and which screening tests they should take to detect signs of cancer before symptoms appear.
Although the questionnaire is suitable for 'self-administrations', researchers stress that it’s important that patients talk with their primary health care provider about the results. Commenting of the test they claim ‘The test is designed to be used by health professionals and their patients. If patients are using the tool at home, we encourage them to discuss the results, and their individual risk of colorectal cancer with their healthcare provider.’
For more information:
- The new tool is now available online.
- SEER: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Colon & Rectum (statistics).
Also, read PubMed abstracts:
- Freedman AN, Slattery ML, Ballard-Barbash R, et al. A colorectal cancer risk prediction tool for white men and women without known susceptibility. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Dec 29. [Epub ahead of print].
- Park Y, Freedman AN, Gail MH, et al. Validation of a colorectal cancer risk prediction model among whites 50 years old and over. J Clin Oncol. 2008 Dec 29. [Epub ahead of print].
Patient information:
- National Cancer Institute: Understanding cancer risks
- NIH senior health: colorectal cancer
- MedlinePlus: colorectal cancer
Organizations to contact:
- Colon Cancer Alliance - USA
- Colon Cancer Concern (The Bowel Cancer Charity) - United Kingdom
- Europa Colon - Europe
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