Colorectal Cancer
This is linked to high fat and low fiber diet. It is a rich man’s disease, and prevalent in the richer countries. Diarrhea, pain in the abdomen, lower back or bladder, or a change in bowel habits are symptoms of this cancer.
Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, occurs in the colon or rectum. As the graphic below shows, the colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.
Colon cancer, when discovered early, is highly treatable. Even if it spreads into nearby lymph nodes, surgical treatment followed by chemotherapy is highly successful. In the most difficult cases — when the cancer has metastasized to the liver, lungs or other sites — treatment can prolong and add to one’s quality of life.
colon or rectum that may later become cancerous. Colon cancer affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and is most often found in people 50 years or older. It is the third most common cancer in the United States, behind only lung and prostate cancers in men and lung and breast cancers in women, and the second leading cause of cancer death.
In fact, it is estimated that in 2013, 50,830 people will die of colon cancer. But the truth is: it doesn’t have to be this way. If everyone 50 years or older had a regular screening test, as many as 80% of deaths from colon cancer could be prevented.
Colon cancer screening saves lives. Screening detects precancerous polyps and allows them to be removed before turning into cancer. Screening also helps find colon cancer at an early stage, when treatment often leads to a cure. So please, take control of your life and your health – if you’re turning 50 or are experiencing abnormal symptoms, GET SCREENED. And urge those you love to do the same.
Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
● People age 50 and older
● People who smoke
● People who are overweight or obese, especially those who carry fat around their waists
● People who aren’t physically active
● People who drink alcohol in excess, especially men
● People who eat a lot of red meat (such as beef, pork or lamb) or processed meat (such as bacon, sausage, hot dogs or cold cuts)
● People with personal or family histories of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polyps
● People with personal histories of inflammatory bowel disease (such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)
● People with family histories of inherited colorectal cancer or inherited colorectal problems