Colorectal Cancer: keeping it a secret could cost your life

• Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths in the U.S.
• Colorectal cancer is preventable if polyps are found and removed early.
• Testing for colorectal cancer is easy to access!

Cancer of the colon and rectum will affect 150,000 Americans this year; over one-third will die of their disease. Only lung cancer kills more Americans each year. Breast and prostate cancer are more frequently diagnosed, but tremendous strides toward cure have been made.

The tragedy is that nearly ALL colorectal cancer is PREVENTABLE—it is one of the few cancers in the human body that has a pre-malignant stage that can be found and removed before becoming cancerous.

This process can take years, and provides us an opportunity to exam patients before cancer has formed. Why, then, do so many people put off evaluation and ignore the screening guidelines that are known to save lives? The answer is embarrassment. Bowel habits are intensely private, and while everyone has concerns from time to time, most are unwilling to discuss them. It is this hesitation that can be deadly. If you are bleeding from the rectum, you need to be thoroughly evaluated by a physician. If you have a change in the character of your stool, new and persistent constipation or diarrhea, bloating, weight loss and fatigue you should receive an evaluation. Some of these symptoms may not be serious, but ruling out a possibly curable cancer is critical.

Should you be screened?

• Are you over 50 years old?
• Do you have a relative who has had a polyp or cancer of the colon or rectum?
• Have you seen blood with a bowel movement?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, call 513-585-CARE to obtain more information about screenings.

Screening guidelines: For individuals with no increased risk factors or family history, begin annual colorectal screening at age 50.

For individuals with a family history, begin annual colorectal screening at age 40, or 10 years before your family member was diagnosed.

Colorectal cancer affects both men and women of all backgrounds. For individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer, however, the risk is substantially higher. Chronic inflammation of the colon, polyps, lack of exercise, smoking and high fat/low-fiber diets can all also increase and individual’s risk for colorectal cancer.

Contact Information: The Christ Hospital Cancer Center - 513-585-2323

The Christ Hospital Endoscopy Department - 513-585-1483

For more information about colorectal cancer care at The Christ Hospital, visit http://www.thechristhospital.com/colorectalCancer.html

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