colorectal cancer
Let an agent give accurate general information on colorectal cancer, encourage screening and prompt assessment of symptoms, explain diagnosis and treatment pathways in general terms, and point to specialist care and support without individual medical advice.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent give accurate general information on colorectal cancer, encourage screening and prompt assessment of symptoms, explain diagnosis and treatment pathways in general terms, and point to specialist care and support without individual medical advice.
A cancer of the colon or rectum, usually developing from polyps over years, among the most common cancers worldwide, with risk raised by age, diet, lifestyle, inflammatory bowel disease and inherited syndromes such as Lynch syndrome; it is detected by screening and symptoms and treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and targeted therapies.
What it is for: A cancer requiring screening, diagnosis, treatment and support.
It can be explain symptoms and screening; describe types, stages and hereditary syndromes in general terms; explain treatment pathways; find specialist centres and patient organisations.
Distinguishing features
Colon or rectal origin
Develops from polyps
Screening-detectable
Hereditary risk in some families
What it looks like
Not physical as a concept; a diagnosis from endoscopy, imaging and pathology.
How it is recognised
Changes in bowel habit, blood in stool, weight loss and anaemia
Diagnosed by colonoscopy and biopsy
Haemorrhoids also cause bleeding but are benign
Related models
is a kind of - category
is treated by - services
is related to - risk factor
is related to - other common cancer
In practice
Families and kinds
colon cancer
rectal cancer
hereditary syndromes such as Lynch syndrome and familial polyposis
early-onset colorectal cancer
metastatic colorectal cancer
Standards and regulation
Clinical guidelines from oncology and gastroenterology societies
National screening programmes
Genetic testing guidelines for hereditary syndromes
Failure modes and hazards
Delayed assessment of symptoms
Agents giving individual medical advice
Unproven treatments
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Symptoms Changes to check.
Prompt assessment.
Changes
Bowel symptoms.
Changes
Symptoms.
- Has the person noticed persistent changes in bowel habit, blood in stool, unexplained weight loss or tiredness? boundary
- Should they see a doctor promptly for assessment? action
Screening
Screening programmes.
Screening
Screening.
- Who is invited for screening here, at what ages and by which test? provenance
- What are the benefits and limitations of screening, according to health authorities? provenance
Understand The disease.
General information.
Types
Types and stages.
Types
Types.
- What type and stage is being discussed, in general terms? definition
- Is the user asking about their own diagnosis or results? boundary
Risk
Risk factors.
Risk
Risk factors.
- What do health authorities say about risk factors, including diet, lifestyle and inherited syndromes such as Lynch syndrome? provenance
- Who is eligible for genetic counselling? provenance
Treatment Care pathway.
Specialist care.
Pathway
Diagnosis and treatment.
Pathway
Pathway.
- How is colorectal cancer diagnosed and treated, according to guidelines, in general terms? provenance
- Which questions should be asked of the oncology team? action
Trials
Clinical trials.
Trials
Trials.
- Which trials are recruiting, according to registries? provenance
- How can a patient discuss trials with their team? action
Support Living with it.
Support helps.
Organisations
Patient groups.
Organisations
Patient groups.
- Which patient organisations support people with colorectal cancer here? provenance
- Which services do they offer, including stoma support? provenance
Prevention
Reducing risk.
Prevention
Prevention.
- What do health authorities recommend to reduce risk? provenance
- Is the user asking for personal dietary advice for a medical condition? boundary
What the second pass must settle
- Should each hereditary syndrome be a separate entry?
- How should screening programmes be localised?
- How should support organisations be linked?