Cancer Takes A Hike

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States and Canada (after lung and breast in women, and lung and prostate in men).

According to the American Cancer Society, there were 153,760 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the U.S. in 2007. That means a person in the U.S. was diagnosed with colorectal cancer every 4 minutes. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States and Canada (after lung cancer).

The American Cancer Society estimates that 52,180 people died from colorectal cancer in 2007. That means one person in the United States died of colorectal cancer every 9.3 minutes.

One out of 18 people in this country will develop colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is no symptom at all. Nonetheless, individuals should pay attention to the symptoms of colorectal cancer. When experiencing these symptoms, understand that you are diagnosing a condition and no longer screening. Insist on getting a colonoscopy.

The following symptoms might indicate colorectal cancer.

• a change in bowel habits
• diarrhea or constipation
• narrower than normal stools
• unexplained weight loss
• constant tiredness
• blood in the stool
• feeling that the bowel does not empty completely
• abdominal discomfort: gas, bloating, fullness, cramps
• unexplained anemia
• vomiting

If you experience any of these symptoms for more than a few days, talk to your doctor about them to determine the cause.

Regular screening can save lives in two ways:

• By finding growths (polyps) inside the colon or rectum before they become cancerous.
• By finding cancers early when treatment is most effective

Don’t wait for symptoms to begin regular screening.  Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms at all!  It can be present in people without symptoms, known family history, or a predisposing condition, such as inflammatory bowel disease.

The American Cancer Society recommends that colorectal cancer screening start at age 50.  Earlier initiation of testing – at age 40 – is recommended for people who have a first-degree relative with colorectal cancer or cancerous polyps.

Screening methods

• Colonoscopy
• Double contrast barium enema (DCBE)
• Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy

To learn more about colorectal cancer and how to treat it, please visit the Colon Cancer Alliance's website by clicking on the link.

 www.ccalliance.org

*All images and information provided courtesy of the Colon Cancer Alliance.