March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Approximately 1 in 20 Americans will develop colorectal cancer during their lifetime. It affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups, and most often occurs in people aged 50 years and older. It is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S. but, through early detection, this statistic can change.
If you’re 50 or older, or if you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, getting a screening test for colon cancer could save your life. About 9 out of every 10 people whose colorectal cancers are found early and treated appropriately are still alive five years later.
Get screened now if you are aged 50 or older. If you think you may be at higher risk for colorectal cancer, speak with your doctor about getting screened earlier. Screening can find precancerous polyps – abnormal growths in the colon or rectum – so that they can be removed before turning into cancer. While screening rates have increased in the U.S., not enough people are getting screened for colorectal cancer. In 2012, studies indicated that only about 65% of U.S. adults were up-to-date with colorectal cancer screening, with 7% being screened but not up-to-date, and 28% having never been screened.
Your risk for getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older. Your risk doubles if you have a close relative who had colorectal cancer. Other risk factors include having inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, or certain genetic syndromes.
The three recommended screening tests for colorectal cancer are colonoscopy, flexible sigmoidoscopy, or home stool tests. Colonoscopy is considered to be the most accurate of tests, and it has the added benefit of allowing your health care provider to remove any polyps that may be discovered during the procedure.
Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why regular screenings are so important. If there are symptoms, they may include blood in the stool, stomach pains, aches or cramps that don’t go away, and unexplained weight loss. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor right away. They may be caused by something other than cancer, but screening is the only way to find out.
While you can’t control your family history of colorectal cancer, there are certain things you can do to lower your chances of getting cancer. These include:
- Get screened for colorectal cancer. Screening can find colorectal cancer earlier, when it’s easier to treat. Talk to your health care provider about when you should start screening and which tests might be right for you.
- Get regular exercise. If you are not physically active, you have a greater chance of developing colorectal cancer.
- Watch your weight. Being obese or very overweight increases your risks of getting and dying from colon cancer. Eating healthier and increasing your physical activity can help you control your weight. The Alive! Program is an email-based strategy that provides tips and tools for eating healthier and increasing physical activity.
- Eat lots of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Diets that include lots of vegetables, fruits and whole grains have been linked with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer. Be sure to get fiber from food, not supplements; studies have not shown that supplements help lower risk. Eat less red meat and processed meats (hot dogs and some luncheon meats), which have been linked with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
- Don’t smoke. Long-term smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop and die from colorectal cancer. If you smoke and want to quit, there are several resources to assist with quitting. The health department offers free Quit Tobacco Classes and free medication to help you quit. Also, the Maryland QuitLine provides support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call 1-800-Quit-Now to talk to a quit coach.
- Limit alcohol. Colorectal cancer has been linked to heavy drinking. It is recommended that men have no more than two drinks a day and women should have no more than one drink per day. A single drink amounts to 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine, or 1 ½ ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (hard liquor).
Changing some of these lifestyle habits can also lower your risk of other types of cancer, as well as other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. The links between diet, weight, exercise, and colorectal cancer are among the strongest for any type of cancer.
Overall, your best defense against colorectal cancer is by having regular screening tests when your health care provider recommends. The health department’s Colorectal Cancer Screening Program provides eligible residents with screening services at no cost to them.
For more information about colorectal cancer and screening, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.