Risks of Colon Cancer in Women and Men

ÂIf your doctor learns that you do have colorectal
Cancer occurs when something goes wrong with thiscancer, 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 casesaverage-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. Rectalcolonoscopy) 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 cancerhistory of colorectal cancer; non-hereditary polyposis;
killer overall and third most common cause ofcolorectal cancer; or a pre-disposing condition such as
cancer-related death in the United States in bothinflammatory bowel disease.
males and females. Who is at risk for colorectalThe first step to avoiding this ailment is prevention
cancer. Men tend to get colorectal cancer at anwith regular tests at the doctor, but there are other
earlier age than women, but women live longer soways of getting around this disease in between
they catch up with men and thus the total numbercheckups. Nevertheless, it appears that increasing the
of cases in men and women is equal. Womenfiber content in the Western diet would be useful in
diagnosed with uterine or ovarian cancer before agethe primary prevention of colorectal cancer. It is
50 are at increased risk of colorectal cancer. Womanrecommended that physical activity messages
with a personal history of breast cancer have only apromoting at least 30-45 minutes of moderate to
very slight increase in risk of colorectal cancer. Thevigorous 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 agecancer. The population prevalence for meeting
or older. You have a higher risk for colon cancer ifproposed 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 diseaseOur bodies need lots of calcium and not only for
Family history of colon cancerbuilding strong bones. Colon cancer prevention is one
Personal history of breast cancerof 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 onper 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 mostthe colon, which is often seen in the initial stages of
common presenting symptom of colorectal cancer iscolon cancer. A significant protective factor is
rectal bleeding. Cancers arising from the left side ofadequate dietary calcium intake during the period of
the colon generally cause bleeding, or in their latemaximum growth, ages 9 and 25 years, so that
stages may cause constipation, abdominal pain, andproper peak bone mass is achieved by age 20and 30
obstructive symptoms. On the other hand, right-sidedyears 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 altereddietary 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 bloodintake in the United States in the critical years of
loss may accompany cancer of the right side of theadolescence and young adulthood and later in life.
colon.