Colon Cancer : In Depth - Prevention an...
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Although the exact causes of colorectal cancer are not known, a person can take steps to reduce his or her risk of developing the disease. Studies show that quitting smoking, taking dietary supplements, drinking less alcohol, and exercising more may lower the risk of colorectal cancer.
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The richest sources of fiber are found in fruits, vegetables, beans, cereals, and whole grains. Fiber is best known for its ability to promote bowel regularity.
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Key Points Menopausal hormone use (sometimes referred to as hormone replacement therapy or postmenopausal hormone use) involves taking either estrogen alone or estrogen in combination with progesterone or progestin, a synthetic hormone with effects similar to those of progesterone (see Question 2).
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Cigarette smoking causes 87 percent of lung cancer deaths and is responsible for most cancers of the larynx, oral cavity, esophagus, and bladder (see Question 1).
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1. How important is it to stop smoking? It is very important. Tobacco use remains the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. Cigarette smoking accounts for nearly one-third of all cancer deaths in this country each year.
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Key Points The lower tar and nicotine numbers on light cigarette packs and in ads are misleading (see Question 1).
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Learn how to get help to quit smoking and improve your chances of quitting. This document explains the best ways for you to quit as well as new treatments to help. It lists new medications that can double or triple your chances of quitting and quitting for good. It also tells about ways to avoid relapses and talks about concerns you may have about quitting, including weight gain.
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People who have any colorectal cancer risk factors should talk to their doctor or nurse about when they should start checking for colorectal cancer and what tests they should have done.
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When you've been diagnosed with cancer--particularly lung cancer--it may be hard to think or talk about quitting smoking. Why? Because you smoke even though everybody knows that smoking is bad for your health. And everyone knows that it can cause cancer. Plus, we also know that quitting is hard.
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When you should start getting screened and how often you should be screened depends on your risk for colorectal cancer. The recommendations are different for high risk, intermediate risk, and average risk.
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Sometimes cancers or polyps bleed. An FOBT checks for blood in your stool. It's a highly sensitive test, which means it can find polyps and cancer. However, sometimes the test can indicate that there's a polyp or cancer when there isn't. This is called a false positive. Or it can miss a polyp that doesn't bleed. Therefore it's commonly used as an initial test before another screening test such as a colonoscopy or a sigmoidoscopy.
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If you're 50 or over, the American Cancer Society recommends having this test every 3 to 5 years.
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Colonoscopy is used to view the inside of your lower digestive tract (colon and rectum). It can help screen for colon cancer and can also help find the source of abdominal pain, bleeding, and changes in bowel habits. The test is usually done in the hospital on an outpatient basis. During the exam, the doctor can remove a small tissue sample ( a biopsy) for testing. Small growths, such as polyps, may also be removed during colonoscopy.
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This year more than 145,000 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in the United States. In a large number of those cases, the cancer will be advanced. That means they'll be harder to treat. That also means they'll be more likely to be fatal. The earlier colorectal cancer is found, the easier it is to treat. And that makes a cure more likely. You can even prevent the disease if polyps in the colon and rectum are found and removed before they become cancerous.
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A DCBE is also called a lower gastrointestinal series. It is a way to use X-rays to locate polyps and colon cancer. It is a very effective tool for finding large colon polyps and cancer. But it only finds polyps smaller than 1 cm about half the time. So it is a better exam for diagnosing colorectal cancer than for catching it early. Consequently, it is used mainly when you can't have a colonoscopy, but it is not considered standard of care at this time.
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A barium enema is an x-ray exam of your rectum and colon. This test helps your doctor detect problems such as a blockage, a tumor, polyps, or other disorders.
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