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