Genentech: Quiz: Colon Cancer

Mar 7, 2019

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States – and the lifetime risk for developing this disease is approximately 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women.¹ A 2016 study published in the journal Cancer, found that 1 in 7 colorectal diagnoses are in people who are younger than the age of 50, most of which have advanced stages of the disease.² Take our quiz to learn more about the signs, risks and incidence rates of colorectal cancer.

This quiz was updated on March 7, 2019 to reflect new colorectal cancer statistics and screening guidelines from the American Cancer Society .

1. Which of these is not a common symptom of colorectal cancer? ³

Indigestion

Weakness/tiredness

Abdominal pain

Irregular bowel movements

Common signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer include irregular bowel movements, abdominal pain, lethargy and unintentional weight loss.

2. True or False: People younger than 50 do not need to worry about their risks for colorectal cancer.⁴

True

False

In 2018 the American Cancer Society updated their recommended age for regular screening to adults aged 45 years and older with an average risk of colorectal cancer. People at higher risk may need to start screening at a younger age and have it more frequently. It’s important to talk to your doctor about your risk or any symptoms you may be experiencing related to the disease.

3. Colorectal cancer is the ____ most common cancer in the United States. ⁵

Fourth

Third

Second

First

Not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women.

4. According to the American Cancer Society, how many colorectal cancer diagnoses are expected this year?⁶

100,000

Under 120,000

Over 150,000

Over 145,000

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 101,420 cases of colon cancer and 44,180 cases of rectal cancer are expected to be diagnosed this year.

5. Which of these is a common risk factor for colorectal cancer?⁶

Diabetes

Hypertension

Obesity

Increased fiber consumption

Lifestyle factors, such as lack of exercise, smoking and obesity have been linked to a greater risk of colorectal cancer.

6. According to the American Cancer Society, there has been a ___ % decline in colorectal cancer diagnosis in people over 50.⁷

10%

25%

30%

50%

Though there has been a 30% decline in the rate of colorectal cancer in people over 50, a 2016 study published by Cancer discovered an increased colorectal diagnosis rate in people under 50.

7. Which test is used to screen for colorectal cancer?⁴

Colonoscopies

Both

Stool-based tests

Both stool-based tests and colonoscopies are methods used to screen for colorectal cancer. There are some differences between the screening methods so work with your doctor to determine if you should be screened and if so, what is best test for you.

References

¹ American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2019. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2019. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2019/cancer-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf. Accessed Feb. 2, 2019.

² Abdelsattar, Z. M., Wong, S. L., Regenbogen, S. E., Jomaa, D. M., Hardiman, K. M. and Hendren, S. (2016), Colorectal cancer outcomes and treatment patterns in patients too young for average-risk screening. Cancer. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29716

³ American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms;2018. Available at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html#references. Accessed Feb 2, 2019

⁴ American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening; 2018. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html. Accessed Feb. 2, 2019.

⁵ American Cancer Society. Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer; 2019. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html. Accessed Feb. 2, 2019.

⁶ American Cancer Society. Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors; 2018. Available at: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html. Accessed Feb 2, 2019.

⁷ Ahnen, D. J., Barzi, A., Fedewa S. A. (2017), Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2017, CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. Doi: 0.3322/caac.2139. Accessed Feb. 2, 2019.5

Quiz: Colon Cancer

1. Which of these is not a common symptom of colorectal cancer? 3

2. True or False: People younger than 50 do not need to worry about their risks for colorectal cancer.4

3. Colorectal cancer is the ____ most common cancer in the United States. 5

4. According to the American Cancer Society, how many colorectal cancer diagnoses are expected this year?6

5. Which of these is a common risk factor for colorectal cancer?6

6. According to the American Cancer Society, there has been a ___ % decline in colorectal cancer diagnosis in people over 50.7

7. Which test is used to screen for colorectal cancer?4

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