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