IT IS COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
“If everyone who is 50 years old or older were screened regularly, as many as 60% of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.” Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov/features/colorectalawareness/)
Cancer of the colon or rectum is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful weapons for preventing colorectal cancer. Screening is the process of looking for cancer or pre-cancer in people who have no symptoms of the disease.
From the time the first abnormal cells start to grow into polyps, it usually takes about 10 to 15 years for them to develop into colorectal cancer. Regular screening can, in many cases, prevent colorectal cancer altogether. This is because most polyps can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Screening can also result in finding colorectal cancer early, when it is highly curable.
What are the Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer?
Symptoms for colorectal cancer may include—
Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
- Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
- Losing weight and you don't know why.
These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer, but If you're having any of these symptoms, the only way to know what is causing them is to see your doctor.
When should I get screened?
The CDC recommends that everyone get screened for colorectal cancer soon after turning 50. If you are at a higher risk due to inflammatory bowel disease, a personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, or genetic syndromes, you may need to start getting screened earlier and/or more frequently.
What are the Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer?
There are three main tests for Colorectal Cancer. A colonoscopy, a high-sensitivity fecal occult blood test, and a flexible sigmoidscopy are used alone or in combination. Your doctor can determine what test is best from you.
To learn more about Colorectal Cancer, talk to your doctor. Here are some additional resources:
