Colon and Rectal Cancer -- Adenocarcinomas

Nearly all (98 percent) of the cancers of the colon and rectum are known as adenocarcinomas. They form in tissues made up of glands within the colon and rectum.   The different types of adenocarcinomas of the colon and rectum are determined by their appearance under a microscope.

Many colorectal cancers are initially small clusters of cells referred to as adenomatous polyps. Typically, these polyps are benign, or non-cancerous, but they have the potential to eventually become cancerous tumors. Once formed within the glandular structures inside the colon or rectum, the cancer can then spread to the walls of the organ, and from there, out into the surrounding lymphatic system, and elsewhere in the body.

Early-stage survival rates for this particular classification of colorectal cancer are very encouraging at approximately 90 percent, and overall, about half of those diagnosed with the disease will survive at least 5 years. Colorectal adenocarcinomas progress slowly, according to the College of American Pathologists.

Because of that, it may take up to five years for any symptoms to surface, which is another reason early detection is so vital with colorectal cancers, and also why late diagnoses occur more often than they should. In 2010, estimates are that colorectal cancers ranked third among all new cancer cases and in cancer-caused deaths for men and women.

If you or a loved one has colorectal cancer and feel it was detected late or misdiagnosed by your doctor or medical professional in Georgia, please request a copy of our free book, I Have Cancer…Should It Have Been Caught Earlier?, or call an experienced Atlanta medical malpractice and colorectal cancer lawyer at the Dover Law Firm at 770-518-1133 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your situation.