Everyone Healthy Library
Colorectal Cancer
Condition / disease reference page from the Everyone Healthy database.
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Connected health information
Explore this condition in a clear order
Condition overview
Attributes
Commonalityis common
Incidenceis approximately 1 in 1,721 people
Linked signs and symptoms
27Each sign/symptom opens its own page and links back to related conditions.
- Abdominal Bloating
- Abdominal Mass
- Abdominal Swelling
- Anaemia (Anemia)
- Appetite Loss (Anorexia)
- Baby: Crying for Extended Periods (Up to 3 h/day) Without any Known Cause
- Blood in Stool
- Bowel Habits Altered
- Bowel Movement: Feeling of Incomplete Defecation (Tenesmus)
- Bowel Obstruction
- Breath Shortness (Dyspnoea)
- Constipation
- Diarrhoea (Diarrhea)
- Fatigue
- Heartbeats Felt By Patient (Palpitations)
- Liver Enlarged Or Tender
- loss of appetite
- Pain Abdominal
- Skin Yellowing (Jaundice)
- Skin: Pale, Lack of Colour (Pallid Complexion)
- Stool Pale
- Stool With Bright Red Blood (Hematochezia)
- Stool: Change in Stool Shape
- Stools: Black and Tarry (Melena)
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Weight Loss (Body Mass Index Decreased)
Linked drugs / medications
6Medication information is educational only. A doctor or pharmacist should advise whether any medicine is appropriate.
Treatments, therapies and supportive options
49Grouped by treatment type. These are educational database links, not personal treatment recommendations. Evidence labels are shown only where stored in the EH database.
Surgery
9Medical therapy
13- ChemotherapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ColectomyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ColonectomyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- DecompressionWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Decompression via Colorectal TubeWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Decompression Via GastrostomyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Hartman ProcedureWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ImmunotherapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Palliative TherapyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Primary Resection and AnastamosisWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Radiation TreatmentWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- ResectionWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Wide Mesenteric LymphadenectomyWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
Lifestyle changes
2Counselling and support
3Alternative and complementary therapies
4Alternative medicine
4Vitamins and minerals
7- Calcium GluconateWeakly in Favour(Moderate Evidence)
- Calcium SupplementWeakly in Favour(Moderate Evidence)
- Selenium SupplementationWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Vitamin B ComplexWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Vitamin CNo Recommendation(Low Evidence)
- Vitamin D SupplementWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
- Vitamin E SupplementWeakly in Favour(Low Evidence)
Vitamins
2Minerals
1Linked diagnostic tests and investigations
29These are pulled from both EH diagnostic-test link tables, including the older large test-link table.
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Blood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- D-Dimer Blood Test
- Eosinophils Count
- Fecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products, FSPs, Fibrin Breakdown Products, Fbps)
- Fibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Folic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- haptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- Iron Concentration
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Platelet Count
- Potassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- Protein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- Reticulocyte Absolute Count
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration
- Thyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Vitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
- White Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Biological markers/agents
30This visual map shows biological markers/agents reported as increased or decreased with this condition. These are educational relationships only; test results must be interpreted by a qualified clinician because ranges vary by lab, method, age, sex and clinical context.
Often increased
19- Alpha-1 Antintrypsin (AAT)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–215 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsAlpha-1 Antitrypsin (AAT) Concentration
- Cerebrospinal Fluid LeukocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–5 /µL; 1y - 6y: 0–20 /µLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Neutrophil DifferentialReference range exampleAll: 0–5 %Linked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid White Cell Differential
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Total ProteinReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 15–45 mg/dL; Child (< 10y): 15–70 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Protein Concentration
- D-DimerReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–240 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsD-Dimer Blood Test
- EosinophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–3 %; 0–3 %Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Eosinophil Differential Of Total WBC
- Fecal BloodReference range exampleAll: 0–2 mLLinked diagnostic testsFecal Occult Blood Test
- Fibrin MonomersReference range example0–10,000 µg/LLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Monomers Test
- Fibrin Split ProductsReference range exampleAll: 0–1 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsFibrin Degradation Products (FDPs, Fibrin Split Products
- Fibrinopeptide A (FPA)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 0.7–3.1 mg/mL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 0.35–2.5 mg/mLLinked diagnostic testsFibrinopeptide A (FPA) Action Assay
- Gamma Globulin (Blood, Serum)Reference range exampleAll: 0.8–1.7 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsProtein Electrophoresis (Blood, Serum Protein)
- haptoglobin (Hp)Reference range example45–200 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testshaptoglobin (Hp) concentration
- PlateletsReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 150–450 109/L; Adult ( > 16y): 135–380 109/LLinked diagnostic testsPlatelet Count
- Segmented NeutrophilsReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 50–62 %; Adult ( > 16y): 2,500–8,000 mm3Linked diagnostic testsDifferential White Blood Cell Count Tests, Neutrophil Absolute Count
- Thyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0.021–0.11 µg/dL; Newborn (0 - 1month): 0.04–0.19 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroid Stimulating Horomone (TSH) Concentration, Urine B2 Microglobulin Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Total T3)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 1.1–2.43 ng/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 1–2.1 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Total T3) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine Uptake PercentageReference range exampleAll: 25–38 %Linked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine Uptake Test
- Uric Acid, BloodReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 2.5–7 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 4–8 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsBlood Uric Acid Concentration Test
- White Blood Cell (WBC)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 4.5–10.5 million/mL; Adult ( > 16y): 3.2–10 million/mLLinked diagnostic testsWhite Blood Cell (WBC) Count
Often decreased
11- Antithrombin 111 (AT-111)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 90–110 %Linked diagnostic testsAntithrombin 111 (AT-111) Activity Test
- Folic Acid (Folate)Reference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 14–51 ng/mL; Child (0 - 16y): 5–21 ng/mLLinked diagnostic testsFolic Acid (Folate) Concentration
- Glucose (Cerebrospinal Fluid)Reference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 65–85 mg/dL; Adult ( > 16y): 50–72 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsCerebrospinal Fluid Glucose Concentration
- Hemoglobin (Hb)Reference range exampleFemale: 78–100 gm/dL; Male: 76–100 gm/dLLinked diagnostic testsHemoglobin (Hb) Concentration, Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH) Weight Test
- IronReference range exampleChild (0 - 16y): 50–120 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Female: 50–150 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsIron Concentration, Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC)
- Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 0–125 mg/dL; 6y - 16y: 0–100 mg/dLLinked diagnostic testsLow Density Lipoprotein (LDL) Concentration
- Potassium (K, Blood)AbbreviationKReference range exampleInfant (0 - 1y): 4.1–5.3 mEq/L; Child (0 - 16y): 3.4–4.7 mEq/LLinked diagnostic testsPotassium Concentration (K, Blood)
- ReticulocytesReference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 24–83 109/L; 0.5–1.5 %Linked diagnostic testsReticulocyte Absolute Count, Reticulocyte Count Percent Total RBC
- Thyroxine (Total T4)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y), Female: 6–12 µg/dL; Adult ( > 16y), Male: 5–12 µg/dLLinked diagnostic testsThyroxine (Total T4) Concentration
- Triiodothyronine (Free T3)Reference range example2.7–4.9 pg/mLLinked diagnostic testsTriiodothyronine (Free T3) Concentration
- Vitamin B12 (VB12)Reference range exampleAdult ( > 16y): 130–670 pmol/LLinked diagnostic testsVitamin B12 (VB12) Concentration
Introduction / full article
Colorectal Cancer
Efficacy of Alternative and Other Treatments According to GRADE* Ranking:
Vitamin E [1, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief. This vitamin can have harmful effects if taken in doses higher than 100% of the recommended daily allowance.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Some trials have shown that vitamin E may help lower the risk of developing prostate cancer. However, more research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Vitamin D [1, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Observational studies show that a higher intake of Vitamin D may help lower the risk of getting colorectal cancer. However, clinical trials need to be completed to provide more reliable evidence.)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Vitamin B Complex [1, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help in preventing some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present. Please note, this acts as a PREVENTATIVE treatment, and not necessarily symptomatic relief. Supplements should only be taken if they contain no more than 100% of the recommended daily value
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Vitamin B may be linked to a lower risk for colorectal cancer. However, results of studies have been mixed, and further research is needed.)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Venus Flytrap Extract (Carnivora, Dionaea Muscipula) [3, 16, 17, 18]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that Venus Flytrap Extract may have some effect against colon cancer in animals. However more research is needed in humans.)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Turmeric [3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a weak supportive symptomatic support, and even then, has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early laboratory studies show that turmeric may be of benefit in the treatment of cancer. However, clinical trials on humans are needed)
Grade of Evidence: Low quality of evidence
Psyllium (Isphagula, Plantago Psyllium) [3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It may mildly help with some of the symptoms, and even then has insufficient evidence to back up this claim at present.
Recommendation: No recommendation (Studies on the effect of Psyllium on preventing colorectal cancer have yielded mixed results. more studies are needed)
Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence
Calcium Gluconate:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer)
Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence
Calcium Supplements:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Early studies show that calcium supplements may be effective in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer)
Grade of Evidence: Moderate quality of evidence
Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurveda):
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that ayurvedic medicine helps treat colorectal cancer in any way)
Grade of Evidence: Very low quality of evidence
Vitamin C [44, 45, 46]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.
Recommendation: No recommendation (There is insufficient evidence to support claims that vitamin c may be able to help treat colorectal cancer. Some studies have concluded that the benefits of vitamin c in patients with colon cancer are negligible. More studies are needed)
Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence
Selenium Supplementation [47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52]:
Please note, this management does NOT treat the condition itself. It is proposed only as a preventative or supportive management, not as a treatment.
Recommendation: Weakly in favor (Studies show that selenium may be beneficial to those that have colorectal cancer, however it is more researched as a preventative treatment)
Grade of Evidence: Low level of evidence
* www.gradeworkinggroup.org
Summary References
Treatments:
1. Mosolits S, Nilsson B, Mellstedt H (June 2005). "Towards therapeutic vaccines for colorectal carcinoma: a review of clinical trials". Expert Rev Vaccines 4 (3): 329–50. doi:10.1586/14760584.4.3.329
3. Ades T, Alteri R, Gansler T, Yeargin P, "Complete Guide to Complimentary & Alternative Cancer Therapies", American Cancer Society, Atlanta USA, 2009
4. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-psyllium.html
5. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/meds/a601104.html
6. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=cmed&part=A17913
7. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/psyllium
8. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cholesterol-lowering-supplements/CL00013/METHOD=print
9. http://www.ageless.co.za/herb-psyllium.htm
10. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/turmeric
11. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-turmeric.html
12. http://nccam.nih.gov/health/turmeric/index.htm
13. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/1668932.stm
14. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/10/28/curry-kills-cancer-cells-and-other-health-benefits-of-the-nations-favourite-dish-115875-21779950/
15. http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=turmeric
16. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/venus-flytrap
17. Parimala, R. & P. Sachdanandam 1993. Effect of plumbagin on some glucose metabolizing enzymes studied in rats in experimental hepatoma. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry 12(1): 59–63.
18. http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/318/2/484
19. http://www.cancer.org/Treatment/TreatmentsandSideEffects/ComplementaryandAlternativeMedicine/HerbsVitaminsandMinerals/vitamin-b-complex
20. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/patient-folate.html
21. Butterworth RF. Thiamin. In: Shils ME, Shike M, Ross AC, Caballero B, Cousins RJ, editors. Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, 10th ed. Baltimore: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.
22. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18220605
23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6935482.stm
24. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19061687
25. Gropper, S. S, Smith, J. L., Groff, J. L. (2009). Advanced nutrition and human metabolism. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage learning.
26. Otten, J. J., Hellwig, J. P., Meyers, L. D. (2008). Dietary reference intakes: The essential guide to nutrient requirements. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press
27. http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/vitamin-b1.htm
28. Higdon, Jane (2003). "Biotin". An evidence-based approach to vitamins and minerals. Thieme. ISBN 9781588901248.
29. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/o/cochrane/clsysrev/articles/CD006164/frame.html
30. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10824056
31. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jcb.10338/abstract
32. http://pain-topics.org/pdf/vitamind-report.pdf
33. http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.1185/030079908X253519
34. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/article756975.ece
35. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17556697
36. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18065602
37. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamind.html
38. http://nccam.nih.gov/news/alerts/vitamine/vitamine.htm
39. http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/070106.htm
40. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/vitamine.html
41. http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/76/4/703
42. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2586922/?tool=pmcentrez
43. http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine.asp#h3
44. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11205484
45. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0054448/
46. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3509163/
47. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18690824
48. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25042282
49. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19235033
50. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17176213
51. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18763256
52. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21466436