WELLNESS WEDNESDAY: COLON CANCER

Colorectal cancer (cancer of the colon or rectum) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.  Greater than 50,000 people die from colorectal cancer every year.  This disease is highly preventable, by getting screened beginning at age 50.

Screening tests help prevent colorectal cancer by finding precancerous polyps (abnormal growths) so they can be removed. Screening also finds this cancer early, when treatment can be most effective.

·         Risk increases with age. More than 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people aged 50 and older.

·         Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t alwayscause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. Symptoms may include—

o    Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).

o    Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.

o    Losing weight and you don’t know why.

·         Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. If you think you may be at increased risk, talk to your provider about when to begin screening, which test is right for you, and how often to get tested.

·         There are several screening test options. Talk with your provider about which is right for you.

o    Colonoscopy (every 10 years).

o    High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (every year).

o    Sigmoidoscopy (every 10 years, with FOBT or FIT every three years).

o    Sigmoidoscopy alone (every 5 years).

o    Stool DNA test (FIT-DNA) every one or three years.

o    CT colonography (or virtual colonoscopy) every five years.

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