Colon Cancer: What You Need to Know

Colon cancer is a preventable and curable disease. Healthy lifestyle choices and early detection help people diminish the risk for experiencing the ravages of this life-threatening cancer.

Colon cancer is the fourth-most common type of the disease in the country. Approximately 140,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Although, the disease is often deadly because it is diagnosed during its later stages, colon cancer is preventable and curable. While it is the second-leading cause of cancer death, the morbidity rate for colon cancer has been dropping in recent years because of proper screening and healthy lifestyle changes. The following are some essential things that you need to know about colon cancer.

Risk Factors for Colon Cancer

Certain demographics like advanced age and gender play a strong role in your risk for developing colon cancer. Men have a higher risk than women do. In addition to a family history of cancer, other risk factors include ulcerative colitis, obesity and a sedentary lifestyle. The consumption of partially hydrogenated vegetable oils (PHVOs) in prepared foods as well as red and processed meats, which are typically preserved with nitrates, also increases the risks for developing the disease.

Symptoms of Colon Cancer

The most readily identifiable symptoms include changes in bowel habits. These include diarrhea, constipation or the sensation that your bowel is not emptying completely. Your stool may be narrower than usual. You may also notice blood in your stool as well. Colon cancer sufferers may experience frequent gas pains, cramps and bloating as well as vomiting, persistent tiredness and unexplained weight loss.

How Is Colon Cancer Diagnosed

Risk factors and your medical history will determine how often and at what age you should be screened for the disorder. For most patients, doctors recommend that the screening process begin at age 50. Your doctor may recommend earlier screenings if your risk factors warrant it. How frequently you are screened depend on the type of tests used and the results. During a colonoscopy, a physician inserts a small camera mounted to a flexible tube that allows the inspection of the entire colon and rectum. A sigmoidoscopy facilitates the examination of a portion of the colon and rectum. In addition to a fecal occult blood test, your doctor may recommend a double-contrast barium enema or a CT colonography to detect the presence of precancerous polyps or cancer.

Treatment Options

Surgery to remove cancerous tissue or precancerous polyps is the most common treatment for colon cancer. Depending upon the location and the stage of the disease, a different surgical approach may be utilized. Your doctor may also recommend radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

Ways to Prevent Colon Cancer

Several lifestyle choices can lower your potential of developing colon cancer. Choose to eat a healthy diet that is rich in fruits, vegetable and dietary fiber. Avoid PHVOs, and reduce the consumption of red and processed meat. If you use tobacco products, ask your physician for recommendations on a cessation program. You should also avoid excess alcohol intake. It is recommended that you exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. You can lower your risk of cancer by shedding excess pounds, especially belly fat. Studies have also shown that a daily low-dose aspirin may reduce your risk of colon cancer.

If you are age 50 or older, you should ask your doctor about screening for colon cancer. You should also seek medical treatment if you notice any of the symptoms persist for longer than a week. The earlier that cancer is detected, the more favorable the treatment outcome. Healthy lifestyle choices can prevent cancer and increase your quality of life.

New Colon Cancer Screening Guidelines Still Point to Colonoscopy

Health experts in the U.S. are reiterating advice first given in 2008: people should get screened for colon cancer at age 50, and continue getting screened until they are 75 or older. Colorectal cancer is the #2 cause of cancer death in the U.S., with almost 134,000 diagnoses this year. 49,000 of these cases will die from the disease.

People who need to get screened can choose from a variety of methods – the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) does not endorse one method over the other. Dr. Douglas Owens, former task force member, encourages people to choose the best option personal to them. All options for colon cancer will assist in early detection and decrease the risk of death. The American Cancer Society recommends a colonoscopy screening once every 10 years. Other testing options may require more frequent intervals.

Many doctors, however, suggest that a colonoscopy is the best test available – and consider it the gold standard for preventative care. Dr. Arun Swaminath, director of the inflammatory bowel disease program at Lenox Hill Hospital, explained colonoscopies as being able to do two things at once: identify cancer/polyps and also remove them from the body.

Other tests, he noted, such as stool tests and DNA tests (i.e. Cologuard), will still require a need for a colonoscopy to treat the problem if the tests come back positive.

The USPSTF analyzed various other methods in order to develop new colon cancer screening recommendations. In addition to colonoscopy, tests included CT colonography, which scans the colon, fecal blood tests that look for blood in stool, and flexible sigmoidoscopy. Cologuard, a DNA-based stool test, was also included as it’s been recently approved. Panelists advised that each method has pros and cons, and no comparison studies have taken place to prove or disprove effectiveness of one method over another. The new guidelines are recommended for people older than age 50, with a normal colorectal cancer risk. Those with medical histories that have increased their risks may need to be screened more often.

Elderly patients have different guidelines. The panelists suggest that adults over age 76 are at a greater risk for harm and may not benefit from screenings. However, if someone in this age group is healthy and has never been screened before, a screening is suggested. Elderly people should consult their doctors for a consultation.