Get Screened: For the Health of Your Colon | HealthInfi

Go ahead and blame former President Clinton for calling attention to colon cancer by declaring this month National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Back in 2000, he knew what he was doing: it’s an opportunity to spread colon cancer awareness. I know it’s not the sexiest topic, but we all need to think about our colons, especially once we hit 50.

That’s when it’s recommended you start routine screening, unless you’re at increased or high risk for colorectal cancer; then, you need to talk to your doctor about starting earlier.

You may be at increased risk if you or a close relative have had polyps or colorectal cancer; you have inflammatory bowel disease or certain genetic syndromes likeGo ahead and blame former President Clinton for calling attention to colon cancer by declaring this month National Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Back in 2000, he knew what he was doing: it’s an opportunity to spread colon cancer awareness. (FAP)or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (known as Lynch syndrome).

Some important colorectal (aka colon cancer) facts

• Colorectal cancer develops in the colon or rectum (also known as the large intestine)
• It’s the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the third leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the United States.
• The American Cancer Society estimated that 136,830 people would get diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014 and 50,310 would die from the disease.

What’s most important to know: you need to get screened. To me, that’s obvious. Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, and screening is a way to reduce your risk. If it’s found early, colon cancer is one of the most treatable cancers.

But unfortunately, in 2010, only a little more than half of those aged 50 or older reported having screening consistent with current guidelines, according to the National Health Institute Survey. It’s estimated that if everyone 50 or older got screened regularly, up to 60 percent of deaths from colon cancer could be avoided.

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the colon or rectum divide uncontrollably, ultimately forming a malignant tumor. (The colon and rectum are parts of the body’s digestive system, which takes up nutrients from food and water and stores solid waste until it passes out of the body.)

Parts of the colon. Drawing of the front of the abdomen that shows the four sections of the colon: the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the sigmoid colon. Also shown are the small intestine, the cecum, and the rectum. The cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal make up the large intestine. The cecum, ascending colon, and transverse colon make up the upper, or proximal, colon; the descending colon and sigmoid colon make up the lower, or distal, colon.

Most colorectal cancers begin as a polyp, a growth in the tissue that lines the inner surface of the colon or rectum. Polyps may be flat, or they may be raised. Raised polyps may grow on the inner surface of the colon or rectum like mushrooms without a stalk (sessile polyps), or they may grow like a mushroom with a stalk (pedunculated polyps).  Polyps are common in people older than 50 years of age, and most are not cancer. However, a certain type of polyp known as an adenoma may have a higher risk of becoming a cancer.Read More