The Cancer No One Wants to Talk About
March is National Colorectal Cancer Month, so let's learn more about this second leading cause of cancer deaths (for cancers that affect both men and women) in the United States.
Colorectal cancer, or cancer of the colon or rectum, is the third most common cancer in men and women and affects them equally. This year, over 142,500 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and nearly 51,400 will die of the disease.
But the more you know about the risk factors – and how to lower them – as well as the detection of this disease, the better your chances are of not becoming one of the statistics.
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Risk Factors
• Smoking
• Being 50 years old or older
• Obesity, especially carrying fat around the waist
• Not being physically active
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Eating a lot of red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb) or processed meat (such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs or cold cuts)
• A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polyps
• Having inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease
Reducing Your Risk
• Be physically active for at least 30 minutes, at least five days a week
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Don't smoke
• Have no more than one drink a day for women or two drinks a day for men
• Eat fruits, vegetables and whole grains
• Eat less red meat and cut out processed meat
Detection
The best time to get screened is before you have any symptoms. Someone of average risk should start getting screened at age 50; those at higher risk may need to start screening earlier and be screened more often. If you're over 75, ask your doctor if you should continue to be screened.
With certain types of screening, colorectal 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 more easily and successfully treated. Talk to your doctor about which is the best for you.
• Colonoscopy - Every 10 years
• Virtual colonoscopy - Every 5 years
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy - Every 5 years
• Double-contrast barium enema - Every 5 years
Other tests, such as stool tests, primarily find cancer once it has already developed and should be done every year. An abnormal result of a virtual colonoscopy or double-contrast barium enema or a positive stool test should be followed up with a colonoscopy.
So take good care of your digestive system, exercise, eat a healthy diet, and get regular screenings to form a hedge of protection against this deadly disease.
