"The Colorectal Cancer Treatment Guidelines, Patient Version" is produced through a cooperative effort of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the National Comprehensive Cancer Center Network (NCCN), an umbrella organization made up of 17 of the world’s leading cancer centers.

The NCCN originally developed the detailed treatment guidelines to help guide doctors, nurses, and other oncology professionals in choosing the most effective treatment for each patient. Experts in colorectal cancer treatment examined the evidence from research and treatment studies, gathered information from other recognized experts in the field, and determined from the evidence what works best under specific circumstances.

The ACS helped to translate the highly technical terms, charts, and procedures meant for oncology professionals into a plain-language guide that helps patients understand their best options for treatment and the criteria on which doctors base their recommendations.

The guidelines cover stages of the disease, detailed treatment options, side effects of treatment, and important questions for patients to discuss with their doctors. General information about clinical trials and a glossary of commonly used terms also is included.

"The guidelines provide patients with the same information available to professionals, but with all the professional jargon replaced with more basic – but still detailed and comprehensive – language," says William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the NCCN. "They can see right there with their own eyes what the appropriate care pathways are with respect to specific patient characteristics of disease."

A co-author of the patient version of the guidelines notes the result of the ACS-NCCN collaboration is a major benefit to patients. "These state-of-the-science guidelines help patients understand what factors doctors use in making treatment recommendations," says Ted Gansler, MD, Director of Medical Content for the ACS. "Helping patients to see what goes into treatment recommendations and which treatments are known to be best for particular circumstances helps them enormously in dealing with their cancer."

The colorectal cancer patient guidelines are updated regularly to remain current with the clinical recommendations of the NCCN. A new version will likely be published in late spring or very early summer, McGivney says.

To obtain a copy of the most recent guidelines, click here, visit the NCCN web site, or call 1-800-ACS-2345 or 1-888-909-NCCN.

The ACS estimates 135,400 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in the U.S. this year, and an estimated 56,700 people are expected to die of the disease. For more information on colorectal cancer, including things you can do to reduce your chances of developing the disease, and ways it can be found early if it does develop, visit our Colon and Rectum Cancer information.