Online Assessment Helps People Understand Their Personal Risk Of Colorectal Cancer

A free online ‘risk assessment’ from a leading U.S.-based hospital is helping people around the world take positive steps to reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer, and giving doctors more data on the risk factors associated with the disease.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer worldwide, according to World Health Organization figures, responsible for the deaths of an estimated 774,000 in 2015, the most recent year for which data has been published. Yet, according to physicians at Cleveland Clinic, it is also one of the most easily treated if detected early enough.

A five-minute web-based questionnaire, which can be found at clevelandclinic.org/preventcoloncancer, aims to help people get that early diagnosis. The free assessment asks respondents about age, gender, ethnicity, height, weight, dietary factors, smoking history, physical activity, personal and family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, and adherence to screening.

After completing the survey, participants get a score of average, or above average at low, medium or high risk of colorectal cancer based on reported personal and family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or both. They also receive a family tree showing the relatives reported to be affected with colorectal cancer or polyps and a call to action outlining what age to start screening and how frequently it should be done.

“Our hope by providing this online assessment is that individuals could take it, print out the results with the call to action and take it to their physicians to start the colorectal cancer screening conversation,” says Carol A. Burke, MD, a Cleveland Clinic gastroenterologist, and past president of the American College of Gastroenterology.

“In turn, physicians can start the discussion with the patient about the importance of colorectal cancer screening,” adds Dr. Burke.

Dr. Burke and colleagues developed the online survey to provide patients with information about their colorectal cancer risk based upon self-reported personal and family history of colorectal cancer and polyps. The survey generates suggestions for each participant to modify risk factors through screening as well as lifestyle and dietary changes.

In 2017, analysis of more than 27,000 responses from around the world found that individuals who exercised more, followed a healthy diet and did not smoke were less likely to have a personal history of colorectal cancer or colon polyps. The analysis also highlights the modifiable risk factors, such as diet and lifestyle behaviors, reported by patients without a personal history of colorectal cancer and polyps.