Colorectal Cancer Awarenes
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer of men and women in the U.S., and March is awareness month for this disease.
The American Cancer Society says colorectal cancer claims more lives than either breast or prostate cancer. Each year there are about 150,000 new cases of colorectal cancer, and 50,000 people lose their lives to the disease.
Colorectal cancer occurs when tumors grow in the colon or rectum, which make up the large intestine. Symptoms might include blood in the stool, general fatigue or the inability to go the bathroom.
The scary thing is that colorectal cancer often shows no symptoms at all, until it`s too late.
“Screening helps you catch it early which is why recommendations start at age 50. It`s kind of a double bonus because if you catch it early, there may not be recommendations for anything beyond surgery and you can avoid chemo and radiation,” said radiation oncologist Dr. John Watkins.
Caught early enough, the small tumors, called polyps, can even be removed during a colonoscopy, but if the symptoms are ignored, or routine screenings are skipped, the results can be serious….
“Colorectal cancers that are neglected or not caught until advanced stages and in lymph nodes, they can get into the blood stream and travel to places like the liver, lung bone. At that point we have a limited ability to get a long term survival cure, said Watkins.
According to the American Cancer Society, when colorectal cancer is detected at an early stage, the 5-year survival rate is at 90 percent. However, if it`s not detected until later, that survival rate drops to less than 10 percent.
Doctors recommend colonoscopies for everyone starting at age 50. Those with a family history are advised to be screened at 40, but colorectal cancer doesn`t follow any rules. Jill Goetz has no family history, and she was diagnosed at 36.
“Pay attention to the warning signs. I`m living proof of that. If something is wrong or it doesn`t feel right, get it checked,” said Goetz.
There are a few things you can do to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer. Doctors recommend a diet that is high in fiber and low in fat. Evidence also suggests smoking has links to colorectal cancer, and eliminating that habit will benefit your overall health.
via:news.yahoo.com
Tags: Cancer, Cancer News
