Colon Cancer Prevention

What is Colon Cancer?

A cancer of the colon or rectum, located at the digestive tract's lower end.

Early cases can begin as noncancerous polyps. These often have no symptoms but can be detected by screening.

What Are the Symptoms of Colon Cancer?

Colorectal cancer symptoms depend on the size and location of the cancer. Some symptoms include changes in bowel habits, changes in stool consistency, blood in the stool, and abdominal discomfort.

Colorectal cancer treatment depends on the size, location, and how far the cancer has spread. Common cancer treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Risk Factors

Your risk of getting colorectal cancer increases as you get older. Regular physical activity and keeping a healthy weight may help lower your risk.

Other risk factors include having:

• Inflmmatory bowel disease such as Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
• A personal or family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
• A genetic syndrome such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) external icon or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).

Lifestyle factors that may contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer include:

• Lack of regular physical activity.
• A diet low in fruits and vegetables.
• A low-fiber and high-fat diet, or a diet high in processed meats.
• Overweight and obesity.
• Alcohol consumption.
• Tobacco use

Tests for Colon Cancer

Stool-based tests- These tests check the stool (feces) for signs of cancer. These tests are less invasive and easier to have done, but they need to be done more often.

Visual (structural) exams- These tests look at the structure of the colon and rectum for any abnormal areas. This is done either with a scope (a tube-like instrument with a light and tiny video camera on the end) put into the rectum, or with special imaging (x-ray) tests.

How Often Should I Be Screened for Colon Cancer?

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that adults aged 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. The decision to be screened after age 75 should be made on an individual basis. If you are older than 75, ask your doctor if you should be screened. People at an increased risk of getting colorectal cancer should talk to their doctor about when to begin screening, which test is right for them, and how often to get tested.