What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Colorectal Cancer

March 15, 2004
It is estimated that some 150,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer this year and over 57,000 will die. Yet with early diagnosis and treatment, some 90 percent would be cured. Pochapin, medical director of the new Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health, rebuts three myths: colorectal cancer is a man's disease (it affects women at the same rate), it occurs most often in older people (all age groups are affected), and it is hereditary (more than 80 percent of patients have no family history). He then discusses prevention (e.g., changes in diet and lifestyle), traditional and new screening techniques (e.g., colonoscopies, virtual colonoscopies, and FOB tests), and treatment. Pochapin explains the roles of pathologist, radiologist, surgeon, oncologist, nurse, and support staff in the treatment and recovery process and clearly describes surgical procedures, adjuvant therapies, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. A list of resource organizations, a glossary, and a list of references round out this excellent guide. Since there are few current books on this topic, this is highly recommended for most consumer health collections. [Named for Katie Couric's late husband, the Jay Monahan Center for Gastrointestinal Health will open this month; March is also National Colorectoral Cancer Month.-Ed.]-Jodith Janes, Cleveland Clinic Fdn. Lib.

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