Colorectal Cancer
The colon and the rectum—the two parts of the large intestine—are common places for cancer to occur. It is often a hidden cancer because it doesn't usually cause symptoms in its early stages.
Colon cancer affects men and women equally, usually after age 50. That's why experts recommend that adults be tested regularly for colorectal cancer after age 50. Testing is especially important for individuals who are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer. That include those who: have had polyps (a benign growth in the colon or rectum); have a close family member with colorectal cancer; have ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease; or who eat a fatty diet or smoke.
Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:
- diarrhea or constipation
- a feeling that the bowel isn't emptying completely
- blood in the stool
- stools that are narrower than usual
- frequently feeling full or bloated
- weight loss with no known reason
There are several ways to check for hidden colorectal cancer. The most effective test is the colonoscopy. In this test, a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end is passed through the anus and up through the rectum and colon. Any precancerous polyps can be removed during the test. A sigmoidoscopy uses a similar tube, but it is able to look into only the lower portion of the colon. A third test, the fecal occult stool test, can be done at home. It checks for blood in the stool, which can be a sign of bleeding from a colorectal polyp or cancer.
Treatments for colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of these.
Colorectal Cancer Articles
Cancer deaths in the United States are continuing to decline, but there was a slight increase in the number of new cancers in women between 2012 and 2016.
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Bleeding is a common side effect of anticoagulants. However, people with atrial fibrillation (afib) who take the drug for stroke prevention should not ignore any bleeding from their lower gastrointestinal tract as it may signal possible colon cancer.
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The approach to taking laxative solutions to prepare for a colonoscopy is getting a little easier. Now, instead of about 4 liters of solution, the amount is closer to 2 liters. Also, instead of a single large dose, the medicine can be taken in two doses about six to 10 hours apart, starting on the day before a colonoscopy. In some cases, a person can drink all the solution on the same day as the colonoscopy. When drinking the solution, it helps to use a straw to avoid tasting it.
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Whether men age 80 and older should have a colonoscopy depends upon many factors. Yet, the most important question is whether anything found on the colonoscopy will lead to treatment that improves a person’s quality of life.
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A Harvard-led study published online June 12, 2019, by BMJ suggests that boosting red meat intake increases the risk for early death.
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Aspirin falls short in improving colon cancer test results.
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The American Cancer Society has updated its colon cancer screening guideline, recommending that screenings begin at age 45 instead of 50. The change was made in hopes of countering the growing number of colon cancer cases in younger Americans. The guideline recommends that people choose from a variety of different screening methods to find one that best suits their needs and risk profile.
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Colon cancer is among the most common – and preventable – cancers: nearly 140,000 people are diagnosed with colon cancer each year in the US and more than 50,000 people die of the disease annually. This makes it the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death in the US.
So, you should be familiar with colonoscopy (if you aren't already). That's the test during which a doctor places a flexible tube through the rectum into the colon to look for polyps, tumors or other problems. As awful as it may sound, it's usually well-tolerated: you're sedated for the procedure and often people don't even remember having it. We're lucky to have such a good screening test for colon cancer - colonoscopy can not only detect tumors while they're curable, but it can identify precancerous polyps which can be removed before they become cancerous.
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Know when and how to get screened for colon cancer.
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Routine colon cancer screening is often not recommended for men over age 75 unless they have had precancerous polyps before or have a family history of colon cancer. However, men should consider having a colonoscopy at least once, even after age 75, if they have never had one.
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