A Healthy North Carolina: Keep Colon Cancer At Bay. Schedule A Screening Today. | Eastern North Carolina Now

Press Release:

    Your likelihood of developing colon cancer is an astounding one in 20, according to the American Cancer Society. But early detection and removal of pre-cancerous polyps can prevent you from joining the more than 140,000 Americans diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year. Most will survive with early detection and proactive treatment.

    23 million adults - one in of three - between ages 50 and 75 are not being screened or getting recommended testing. Led by the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable, an initiative entitled "80 percent by 2018," has been launched to ensure 80 percent of adults 50 years and older receive regular screenings for colon cancer. Its impact is expected to curb a large percentage of the more than 50,000 deaths resulting from colon cancer each year.

    Early stage colon cancer seldom exhibits symptoms but these are some warning signals you can look for:

• Blood in or on the stool, or in the toilet bowl. Changes in stool shape.
• Changes in bowel habits such as increased constipation or diarrhea.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
• Unexplained anemia. Weakness, pale color, shortness of breath.

    March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Here's what you need to know to keep colon cancer at bay:

• Schedule a visit with your primary care doctor. He/she will recommend the best screening test based on your overall health and insurance coverage.
• In most cases this will be a colonoscopy, which is the preferred colon cancer prevention test. Colonoscopy allows the gastroenterologist to see the entire colon, and in most cases to remove the polyps which can turn into cancer. For most individuals, colonoscopy starts at age 50, and will be repeated every 3-10 years depending on what is found. For higher risk persons, such as those with a personal history of Crohn's disease or a family history of colon cancer, colonoscopy will start at an earlier age, depending on your individual history and risk factors.
• In addition, there are also other screening methods available. A new test on the market is Cologuard, which is a test for cancer DNA in your stool. This is covered by Medicare and may be an alternative for those who cannot tolerate a colonoscopy. Another alternative would be fecal immunochemical test (FIT) cards, sent home with you by your doctor. Please talk to your family physician about what is right for you.
• Be vigilant of the potential symptoms listed above and schedule a visit with your doctor immediately if symptoms occur.
• Encourage your friends and family to do the same.
• And as always, quit smoking, reduce diets high in red meat and fats, especially grilled meats. Studies also show that exercise can reduce the potential for colon cancer by 50 percent.

    More than 1 million colon cancer survivors in the United States prove that 90 percent of colon cancer is beatable with early detection. Colonoscopy can be a life-saving test. Stay on the healthy side of life and get screened early.

    For more information contact Greg Griggs at ggriggs@ncafp.com.