Screen this too!

October we recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month. I love seeing the husky NFL players with flashes of pink on their uniforms in support to raise awareness for women to get their mammograms and to support research cure funding. March is Colon Cancer Awareness month (blue is our color). I run the Colon Cancer Awareness 15k and support their charity awareness, but we can only do better to raise the awareness about colorectal cancer and getting colonoscopy screening. It’s not March, but since we are thinking about breasts, lets think about our bottoms. As the Colon Cancer Alliance says “Think Pink. Go Blue. Screen this too.” 

Colorectal cancer is cancer of the colon or rectum. In the US, it is the 3^rd most common cancer in adults and is also the 2^nd most common cause of cancer death. This year, over 142,000 people will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and an estimated 50,800 will die of the disease.

Factors that increase the risk of colorectal cancer include family history, long-term presence of IBD, familial polyposis, adenomatous polyps, and several dietary components. Polyps are considered precursors of colon cancers. Patterns of dietary practices may be more predictive of the risk of developing colorectal cancer. These factors include increased meat, fat, and alcohol intake. Obesity is a major risk.

Protective:

Adequate intake of Vitamin D, folate, calcium, plant based foods, high fiber grains, omega-3 fatty acids can be beneficial in prevention as well as the use of aspirin. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have also been shown to help prevent colon cancer, but benefit of long term use needs to be weighed against the increased risk of developing stomach or intestinal ulcers as well as major gastrointestinal bleeding. The use of prebiotics and probiotics reduces toxic and genotoxic compounds that may contribute to carcinogenesis, and regular use should be considered for digestive health. Regular exercise as well as limitation of alcohol is also a good preventative strategy.  

Colonoscopy screening:

This procedure involves the physician inserting a flexible tube with a camera (scope) on the end into the rectum and advancing the scope around the colon. The physician applies air to fully inflate the colon while withdrawing the scope back through and at same time looks at the video images from the scope searching for polyps (pre-cancerous growths) in the colon. If polyps are seen, they would also be removed at the same time by biopsy forceps or a cutting wire that is looped over the polyp. All samples are then sent to a pathologist determine potential cancer risk. The polyps will either be benign or pre-cancerous. These results will in turn determine the appropriate timing for a repeat exam. The timing can be 6 months-10 years (average is 5 years) for a repeat exam, and this can vary depending on personal and family risk factors, the size of the polyp, the pathology of the polyp and the quality of the cleaning preparation of the colon.

More than 90% of all colorectal cancers are found in people who are 50 and older. For this reason, the American Cancer Society recommends you start getting checked for this cancer when you are 50. People who are at a higher risk for colorectal cancer—such as those who have colon or rectal cancer in their families—may need to begin testing when they are younger. You should ask your primary doctor or your gastroenterologist the appropriate time to get started.

You can read up further on www.coloncancer.org or www.ccalliance.com