Colon Cancer, What Is It And What You Can Do to Prevent It.
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, but her death caused me to post this now.
What is colon cancer?
Colon cancer, which is also known as colorectal cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and in women in the U.S. and is expected to kill more than 52,000 people this year, according to the American Cancer Society.
The cancer starts in the colon or rectum, part of the digestive system. Doctors say it can be awkward for patients to discuss the symptoms, potentially delaying a timely diagnosis.
“People are maybe sometimes uncomfortable about talking about that part of their body,” Dr. Jennifer Inra, a gastroenterologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, previously told TODAY.com.
The risk of the disease is higher in people who are overweight or obese, lead a sedentary lifestyle, and eat a diet low in fiber and high in red or processed meats, the American Cancer Society noted. Alley was vocal about her struggles with weight.
Age is also a risk factor, with colorectal cancer more common after 50. But more younger adults are being diagnosed, a trend that’s been worrying doctors.
Black Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all racial groups in the U.S., according to the American Cancer Society. They are about 20% more likely to get the disease and about 40% more likely to die from it than most other groups.
What can we do to prevent colon cancer.
Getting stool-based tests and colonoscopies can detect the disease early, before it can spread.
The age for routine screening has recently been lowered to 45, so if you are 45 years of age or older, please get screened. Don’t put it off any longer. This could save your life.
If you have any of the common warning signs, TALK to your doctor. Don't let embarrassment kill you.
Most importantly, eating healthy and exercising is your first line of defense. Don't put it off, start today.
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