Colon Cancer is a common and often deadly disease affecting more and more people worldwide. Globally, higher numbers of new diagnoses have been seen in North America, Australia, and Northern and Western Europe. A lower incidence has been found in Africa and Asia most likely due to differences in environment and diet.
Among all of the different types of cancers, colon cancer has been shown to have the highest link to diet, exercise and weight. Diets that are rich in red or processed meat such as beef, lamb, liver, hot dogs or deli meat increase your risk of colon cancer compared to a diet high in fruits and vegetables. A more sedentary lifestyle also contributes to your risk as well as obesity which appears to have a higher linkage in men then women. Other factors that contribute to a higher risk of colon cancer include increased alcohol intake, smoking, and type 2 diabetes.
Preventive guidelines stress the importance of getting one of the following tests if you are over the age of 50 years:
Recommended Tests for Those 50 Years of Age and Older*
- flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years (followed by a colonoscopy if test is positive)
- colonoscopy every 10 years
- double contrast barium enema every 5 years (followed by a colonoscopy if test is positive)
- CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) every 5 years (followed by a colonoscopy if test is positive)
*Individuals should talk with their personal physician about getting screened earlier if they have any of the following risk factors:
1/ history of colorectal cancer
2/ history of adenomatous polyps
3/ history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease (Crohns disease or ulcerative colitis)
4/ family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (diagnosed in a parent, sibling or child before the age of 60 years) or two or more first degree relatives of any age
5/ a known family history of hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) or hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)
Like some other types of cancers, colon cancer has the ability to remain asymptomatic for a long period of time. Because of this it is imperative to be aware of when you should be screened. It is also vital that you know what the symptoms of colon cancer are and that they are not ignored.
Symptoms of colon cancer include:
Blood in stool – also called hematochezia. This can be in the form of frank bleeding that is easily seen to microscopic bleeding that can only be detected by a hemoccult test performed by your doctor.
Change in stool pattern and shape – your bowel function can change from its normal baseline pattern to diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the shape of your stools.
Abdominal (stomach) pain or cramping – you may begin to detect pain in your stomach caused by the tumor blocking or interfering with the digestive process.
Weight loss – unintentional weight loss is a red flag for any type of cancer.
Weakness or Fatigue – may develop as your body tries to use its resources to fight this disease process as well as incomplete digestion and bowel function.
These symptoms may also herald other disease processes so it is important to have a thorough check-up with your doctor if you are experiencing any one of them.
Related Posts
Most people think of cancer in four stages, with stage four being the worst. In the case of colon cancer, there are five stages. If you are at risk for colon cancer, or you or...
Being overweight carries a great deal of health risks, but one health risk that you may not be aware of is colon cancer. Does your size increase your risk of colon cancer? A recent...
Colon cancer produces growths in the tissues of the rectum, colon and sometimes the appendix. It is also referred to as colorectal cancer. According to statistics found on Cancer.gov,...
Getting a diagnosis of any type of cancer can be scary, but getting a diagnosis for cancer of an organ that you cannot live without is more frightening. Such is the case with colon...
Skin cancer is essentially the abnormal growth of skin cells. It sounds harmless, but skin cancer is actually one of the more deadly types of cancer that a person can acquire....
Leave a Reply
