March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month

COLORECTAL CANCER

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. Each year, more than 136,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer and more than 50,000 die of the disease.

With certain types of screening, this cancer can be prevented by removing polyps (grape-like growths on the wall of the intestine) before they become cancerous. Several screening tests detect colorectal cancer early, when it can be easily and successfully treated.

RISK FACTORS

You might be at an increased risk for colorectal cancer if you:

Are age 50 or older

Smoke or use tobacco

Are overweight or obese, especially if you carry fat around your waist

Are not physically active

Drink alcohol in excess (especially if you are a man)

Eat a lot of red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, or a lot of processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs or cold cuts.

Have a personal or family history of  colorectal cancer or benign (not         cancerous) colorectal polyps

Have a personal or family history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as   ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease  

Early stages of colorectal cancer don’t usually have symptoms. Later on, people may have these symptoms:

Bleeding from the rectum or blood in or on the stool

Change in bowel habits

Stools that are more narrow than usual

General problems in the abdomen, such as bloating, fullness or cramps

Diarrhea, constipation or a feeling in the rectum that the bowel movement isn’t quite complete

Weight loss for no apparent reason

Being tired all the time

Vomiting

PREVENTION

Be physically active for at least 30 minutes at least five days a week

Maintain a healthy weight and waist size

Don’t smoke. If you do smoke, quit

Limit alcohol to no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman

Or two drinks per day if you’re a man

Eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which are good sources of fiber

Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat

EARLY DETECTION

Begin getting screened at age 50. If you are older than age 75, ask your doctor if you should continue to be screened.

If you are a high risk, talk to your health care professional about screening earlier and more often

Talk to your doctor about your screening test options

TESTS THAT FIND PRE-CANCER AND CANCER:

Colonoscopy – Every 10 years

Virtual colonoscopy – Every 5 years

Flexible sigmoidoscopy – Every 5 years

Double-contrast barium enema – Every 5 years

TESTS THAT MAINLY DETECT CANCER

Stool occult blood test (FOBT) (guaiac) Every year

Stool immunochemical test (FIT) – Every year

Stool DNA test (sDNA) – ask your health care professional; the FDA  approved the use of the sDNA test in 2014

An abnormal result of a virtual colonoscopy or a double-contrast barium enema, or a positive FOBT, FIT or sDNA test, should be followed up with a colonoscopy.