Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. This year alone, more than 138,000 Americans will be diagnosed with cancers of the colon and rectum. Men and women are equally affected by this disease.

The good news is that the odds of beating colorectal cancer go up significantly with early detection.

Are you at risk?
About 90 percent of colorectal cancers occur in people over age 50. About 6 percent of people ages 75 to 80 have colorectal cancer at some point in life. In addition to age, other factors that may put you at risk include:

• A personal or family history of colorectal polyps (abnormal growths on the wall of the colon) or cancer
• A low-fiber, high-fat diet
• Excess weight
• An inactive lifestyle
• Long-standing diseases involving the colon, such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis
• Certain hereditary conditions that can result in colon cancers at a relatively young age

A slow-growing disease
Colorectal cancers generally are not fast growing. They may occur anywhere along the lengthy wall of your large intestine. Most have their beginnings as a tiny polyp that develops on the inner lining of the colon wall. The smaller the polyp, the less likely it is to be cancerous. Once a polyp grows beyond about the size of a pencil eraser, there's an increasing chance it will be cancerous , polyps rarely produce any symptoms, so it's important to check for problems with screening tests instead of waiting for symptoms to appear.

Signs and symptoms
Often, signs and symptoms of colon cancer don't occur until the late stages of the disease. See your doctor if any of the following occur and last more than two weeks:

• A change in bowel habits (diarrhea, constipation, etc.)
• Bleeding from your rectum or blood in your stool
• Abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
• A feeling that your bowel doesn't completely empty
• Sudden, unexplained weight loss or loss of appetite
• Constantly feeling tired

What's best for you
Complications from colorectal cancer can be reduced or even prevented with the simple step of regular screening. The screening program recommended includes a yearly fecal occult blood test and a screening flexible sigmoidoscopy every three to five years for all Americans over the age of 50. An annual colonoscopy is recommended for high-risk patients of any age with a prior history of cancer, a strong family history of the disease, or chronic digestive problems which can lead to cancer.

Talk to your doctor about which colon cancer screening program is right for you.

The Baptist Hospital East Cancer Resource Center offers a wealth of information on cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis and treatment. The Cancer Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reach the center, call (502) 896-3009 or FAX (502) 896-3010. The Cancer Resource Center is a service of the Baptist Hospital East Cancer Center.