| Â | | | | done to see if the cancer has spread. |
| Cancer occurs when something goes wrong | | | | Colonoscopy is currently the only test |
| with this system, causing uncontrolled | | | | recommended for colorectal cancer |
| cell division and growth. Colon cancer | | | | screening in average-risk persons at 10 |
| is cancer of the large intestine | | | | year intervals. Colonoscopic |
| (colon), the lower part of your | | | | surveillance (also called screening |
| digestive system. Most cases of colon | | | | colonoscopy) needs to be available at |
| cancer begin as small, noncancerous | | | | more frequent intervals for individuals |
| (benign) clumps of cells called | | | | at high risk for colon cancer (for |
| adenomatous polyps. Rectal cancer is | | | | instance, those with a personal history |
| cancer of the last 6 inches of the | | | | of colorectal cancer or adenomatous |
| colon. Together, they're often referred | | | | polyps; family history of colorectal |
| to as colorectal cancers. | | | | cancer; non-hereditary polyposis; |
| Colorectal cancer is the second most | | | | colorectal cancer; or a pre-disposing |
| common cancer killer overall and third | | | | condition such as inflammatory bowel |
| most common cause of cancer-related | | | | disease. |
| death in the United States in both males | | | | The first step to avoiding this ailment |
| and females. Who is at risk for | | | | is prevention with regular tests at the |
| colorectal cancer. Men tend to get | | | | doctor, but there are other ways of |
| colorectal cancer at an earlier age than | | | | getting around this disease in between |
| women, but women live longer so they | | | | checkups. Nevertheless, it appears that |
| catch up with men and thus the total | | | | increasing the fiber content in the |
| number of cases in men and women is | | | | Western diet would be useful in the |
| equal. Women diagnosed with uterine or | | | | primary prevention of colorectal cancer. |
| ovarian cancer before age 50 are at | | | | It is recommended that physical activity |
| increased risk of colorectal cancer. | | | | messages promoting at least 30-45 |
| Woman with a personal history of breast | | | | minutes of moderate to vigorous activity |
| cancer have only a very slight increase | | | | on most days of the week be included in |
| in risk of colorectal cancer. The | | | | primary prevention interventions for |
| average age to develop colorectal cancer | | | | cancer. The population prevalence for |
| is 70 years, and 93% of cases occur in | | | | meeting proposed physical activity |
| persons 50 years of age or older. You | | | | criteria for colon cancer prevention is |
| have a higher risk for colon cancer if | | | | low and much lower than that related to |
| you have: | | | | the more generic public health |
| Cancer elsewhere in the body. | | | | recommendations. |
| Colorectal polypsCrohn's disease | | | | Our bodies need lots of calcium and not |
| Family history of colon cancer | | | | only for building strong bones. Colon |
| Personal history of breast cancer | | | | cancer prevention is one of the most |
| Ulcerative colitis. | | | | exciting uses for calcium. However, |
| What are the symptoms of colorectal | | | | instead of using calcium supplements, |
| cancer. Symptoms of colorectal cancer | | | | this study relied on low-fat dairy |
| vary depending on the location of the | | | | products to supply 1,200mg calcium per |
| cancer within the colon or rectum, | | | | day. Investigators found this amount of |
| though there may be no symptoms at all. | | | | calcium decreased the incidence of |
| The most common presenting symptom of | | | | changes in the cells lining the colon, |
| colorectal cancer is rectal bleeding. | | | | which is often seen in the initial |
| Cancers arising from the left side of | | | | stages of colon cancer. A significant |
| the colon generally cause bleeding, or | | | | protective factor is adequate dietary |
| in their late stages may cause | | | | calcium intake during the period of |
| constipation, abdominal pain, and | | | | maximum growth, ages 9 and 25 years, so |
| obstructive symptoms. On the other hand, | | | | that proper peak bone mass is achieved |
| right-sided colon lesions may produce | | | | by age 20and 30 years and maintained |
| vague abdominal aching, but are unlikely | | | | until mid-life, with only slow bone loss |
| to present with obstruction or altered | | | | in the following years. As already |
| bowel habit. Other symptoms such as | | | | noted, dietary surveys indicate a |
| weakness, weight loss, or anemia | | | | significant gap between the recommended |
| resulting from chronic blood loss may | | | | calcium intake and the actual intake in |
| accompany cancer of the right side of | | | | the United States in the critical years |
| the colon. | | | | of adolescence and young adulthood and |
| If your doctor learns that you do have | | | | later in life. |
| colorectal cancer, more tests will be | | | | |