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You Can Stop Colon Cancer
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Colorectal cancer can be prevented. And even if it does develop, if caught in early stages up to 90 percent of cases can be cured. Talk to your physician to assess your risk. Colorectal cancer can be detected — even prevented — by undergoing a test called a colonoscopy, said Memphis surgeon Dr. Lee Morisy, MD, FACS. Almost all of these cancers begin as polyps, which are growths found in the colon and rectum. Most are benign. They are fairly common in people older than 50. Some types of polyps increase a person’s risk of developing colorectal cancer. “If polyps are found and removed before they are cancerous, colon cancer can be prevented,” Dr. Morisy said. It is important to be vigilant about colorectal cancer, because once it develops it can grow fairly rapidly, Dr. Morisy said. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer in both men and women in the United States, which is particularly distressing because it is preventable and treatable. “A colonoscopy can detect polyps even before patients have symptoms,” Dr. Morisy said. “Most of the time polyps don’t cause symptoms until they become cancerous.” Recommendations for Testing All men and women should have a colonoscopy at age 50. If the colonoscopy is normal, it may not have to be repeated for 5-10 years. If polyps are found, the test may need to be repeated more frequently. About 75-80 percent of colon cancer is diagnosed in people with no family history of the disease. People with a family history of colorectal cancer should begin having regular colonoscopies at age 40 or 15 years before cancer was diagnosed in the affected family member. When colorectal cancer first develops there may not be any symptoms. But as the cancer grows it may cause symptoms that people should watch for, including a change if the frequency of bowel movements, diarrhea, constipation, feeling that the bowel does not empty completely, blood in the stool and/or stools that are narrower than usual. Surgery is the most common treatment for colon cancer. In most cases the affected part of the colon is removed and the patient can resume normal activities after recovery, with no permanent disability as a result. Risk Factors Risk factors for colorectal cancer include age, polyps, a family history of the disease and diet, according to the National Cancer Institute. Diet is one risk factor you can control. People who consume diets high in fat, protein, calories and alcohol are more likely to develop the disease than people who consume a low-fat, high-fiber diet. A diet high in saturated fat combined with a sedentary lifestyle may increase the risk of colorectal cancer. Colorectal Cancer Prevention So eat lots of fruits and vegetables and cut down on fat consumption, particularly saturated fats. Simply visiting your physician regularly, eating a healthy diet and getting plenty of exercise can greatly reduce your chance of developing colorectal cancer.
Published: February 26, 2008
Source: Dr. Lee Morisy, MD, FACS Writer: Elizabeth Todd Bartholomew, MA, APR  Top of Page |
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