March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

The Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) is making experts available to discuss risk factors, treatment and prevention options surrounding colorectal cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly 149,000 new cases of the disease were diagnosed in the United States last year with 4,600 new cases in New Jersey. Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in men and women and is the third leading cause of cancer death in the nation.

While the exact cause of most colorectal cancers is not known, risk factors include poor diet, lack of exercise, and having polyps in the colon or rectum areas. Those over age 50 also are at increased risk. Beginning at age 50, it is recommended men and women undergo a colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test or other screenings that can detect colorectal cancer. Earlier testing is recommended for people with increased risk, such as those with a family history of the disease.

Some signs of colorectal cancer include:
· Bleeding from your rectum.
· Blood in the stool or toilet after you have a bowel movement.
· A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool, that lasts for more than a few days.
· Cramping pain in your lower stomach.

Studies show that colorectal cancer may be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight, eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables, keeping physically active and limiting use of alcoholic beverages.

CINJ experts available for comment include:

David A. August, MD, is the chief of the division of surgical oncology at CINJ and professor of surgery at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. August is also the director of CINJ’s Gastrointestinal/Hepatobiliary Oncology Program, which is a multidisciplinary clinical and scientific program that provides comprehensive services to patients with pre-cancerous and cancerous conditions involving gastrointestinal organs, including the colon and rectum. Dr. August can discuss the importance of patients having a comprehensive evaluation under one roof with a close collaboration of multiple specialists including surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, pharmacists, social workers and other experts.

Elizabeth Poplin, MD, is a medical oncologist at CINJ and professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. Poplin has expertise in the management of gastrointestinal malignancies including standard and novel treatment options for cancers of the colon and rectum. She can discuss the latest in cancer research studies involving these tumor sites.

Tamir Ben-Menachem, MD, is a gastroenterologist at CINJ and director of endoscopy and associate professor of medicine at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, who has an interest in gastrointestinal malignancies. Dr. Ben-Menachem can discuss detection and staging advances for colorectal cancers through the use of endoscopic ultrasound and other new techniques for removing early cancers non-operatively.