March is National Colorectal Awareness Month! Cancer is a disease that is caused when cells in your body grow out of control and when it happens in your colon or rectum, it is known as colorectal cancer or colon cancer. There are risk factors associated with colorectal cancer, which include:
- Age – your risk increases as you get older
- Having inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
- A family or personal history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps
- Obesity/being overweight
- Certain lifestyle factors, such as low physical activity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use
- Dietary factors, such as low fiber and high fat diets or a diet low in fruits and vegetables
Warning signs of colorectal cancer include:
- A change in bowel habits
- Blood in or on your stool (poop)
- Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that your bowels are not fully empty
- Abdominal aches, pain, or cramps that do not go away
- Unexplained weight loss
The good news is that colorectal cancer can be caught early. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults age 45 to 75 get screened for colon cancer. However, individuals with some of the risk factors above may be asked to get screened at a younger age.
Different types of colorectal cancer screening tests include
- Stool test – your stool is tested for any presence of blood in it
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy – a doctor uses a flexible, lighted tube to check for polyps or cancer inside the rectum and the lower third of your colon
- Colonoscopy – a doctor uses a tube similar to the one used in a flexible sigmoidoscopy, except it is longer and the doctor checks for polyps inside the rectum and the entire colon
- Virtual colonoscopy – an X-ray is used to produce images of the entire colon, which the doctor analyzes for disease
If you believe you are at higher risk for colorectal cancer or have any concerns, please talk to your primary care physician or gastroenterologist.
For more information on colorectal cancer, visit: