Basic HTML Version
■■
Discomfort in the abdomen, including
frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness and
cramps
■■
Weight loss for no known reason
■■
Weakness and fatigue
■■
Unexplained iron-deficiency anemia
Many things can cause these symptoms,
so see your doctor for a prompt evaluation.
Source: American Cancer Society
Who’s at risk?
People with certain risk factors are
more likely than others to develop
colorectal cancer.
Unavoidable risks include age
(50 or older), a personal history of
precancerous polyps or inflammatory
bowel disease, or a history of colorectal
cancer in close relatives. Cancer that is
common among families could be due
to genes or to shared environmental
factors, such as eating habits or
exposure to secondhand smoke.
Race and ethnicity may also come
into play. For reasons that are unclear,
African Americans develop more
colorectal cancer than other races in
the United States. Jews of Eastern
European descent (Ashkenazi Jews)
may be at greater risk due to genetic
mutations. Studies suggest that
some of the strongest risk factors for
colorectal cancer are factors you can
control. To lower your risk, you should
aim for:
■■
A diet low in red meat and high in
fruits and vegetables
■■
Plenty of physical activity
■■
A healthy weight—especially if you’re
a man
■■
No smoking
Having one or more risk factors
doesn’t mean that you will develop
colorectal cancer. However, it is
important to tell your doctor about all
of them. This helps your doctor decide
when and how often you should be
tested for colorectal cancer.
Source: American Cancer Society
you should know
American Cancer Society (ACS).
4. Screening is important—even if you
eat well, exercise and feel fine.
Often there
are no symptoms until the cancer has spread,
says Dr. Evans. And while diet and exercise
lower your risk, they aren’t a guarantee against
the disease. Screening is recommended even
for people without symptoms or risk factors.
The ACS recommends that most people be
screened for colorectal cancer starting at age
50. Some people who are at particularly high
risk for the disease may need to start screening
at an earlier age.
Many insurance policies cover the cost of
screening for people 50 and older. Medicare
covers the test too.
5. Colonoscopy generally is not painful.
Most people don’t remember the procedure
because they’re given medicine to sleep
through the exam.
So talk with your doctor about when you
should be screened. This is one test that could
save your life.
Here are some things you can do:
■■■■■
Get to and stay at a healthy weight
■■■■■
Keep physically active
■■■■■
Avoid alcohol
■■■■■
Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole
grains
■■■■■
Eat only small amounts of red or processed
meat
2. Colorectal cancer is not always deadly.
More than 90 percent of people whose
colorectal cancers are found early can be
treated and cured, according to the American
Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. But
many people wait to see a doctor until they
have symptoms of the disease.
“Often, that means the cancer has already
spread,” Dr. Evans says. “Survival rates are
lower if colorectal cancer isn’t found early.”
3. Colorectal cancer is an equal-opportunity
disease.
It affects men and women of all races.
The most important risk factor, however, is age.
More than 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases
are in people 50 and older, according to the
al cancer
But if you have any of these symptoms, see
your doctor right away:
■■
A change in bowel habits, such as
constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than
a few days
■■
Rectal bleeding, dark stools or blood in the
stools
■■
Stools that look narrower or thinner than
normal
www.peacehealth.org
9