Mitchell Kang, DO, is a board-certified gastroenterologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group. He sees patients at the Kaiser Permanente Caton Hill Medical Center.
One of the most prevalent forms of cancer is colon cancer. Fortunately, early detection significantly improves survival rates. I’m a gastroenterologist at Kaiser Permanente who treats patients with stomach and colon issues, and I want to share what everyone should know about colon cancer and what people can do to prevent it or detect it in its earliest stages.
What Is Colon Cancer?
The colon, also known as the large intestine, is where colon cancer begins. Usually, it starts as a tiny growth known as a polyp. That polyp may eventually develop into cancer. Regular screenings help detect polyps early and can be removed before they become cancerous.
Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in men and the second in women. In the United States, approximately 153,000 people are diagnosed with it every year, and about 52,500 people die from the illness. Though the number of fatalities is declining due to more people getting regular screenings, people are being diagnosed at younger ages.
What Are Risk Factors for Colon Cancer?
Some people are at increased risk of developing colon cancer. Risk factors include:
- Older age (risk increases with age)
- A family history of colon cancer
- Inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative colitis
- Certain hereditary conditions such as F.A.P (Familial adenomatous polyposis), Lynch syndrome or Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Eating excessive red or processed meat
- Having diabetes or insulin resistance
- Radiation exposure to the abdomen
African Americans and Native Americans are at increased risk of colon cancer, according to national data.
Signs and Symptoms
Some early signs of colon cancer can be easily missed. The most common symptom is blood in the stool. Other symptoms include:
- Pain in your belly
- Unexplained weight loss
- Feeling tired all the time (a possible sign of anemia)
- Changes in your stool (constipation or diarrhea)
- Not feeling hungry
If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor.
When to Get Screened
Screening helps find the illness early. Anyone at average risk of colon cancer should begin screening at age 45. If you have a family history or other risk factors, you may need to start even earlier.
There are two main ways to get screened:
- Colonoscopy: A doctor looks at your colon using a camera. If they see any polyps, they can remove them right away. Colonoscopies generally are recommended every 10 years.
- Fecal immunochemical test (FIT): This test looks for hidden blood in the stool. It is a noninvasive, private way to check for colon cancer without having to leave your home. The test should be performed once a year.
Both tests are helpful in detecting colon cancer (although choosing to undergo a colonoscopy saves you a step, as polyps can be removed at the time). Kaiser Permanente is a national leader in colorectal cancer screening among its members, enabling our patients to lead longer, healthier lives.
How to Lower Your Risk
There are things you can do to lower your chance of getting colon cancer:
- Be active and exercise often
- Eat more vegetables and less red or processed meat
- Avoid smoking and limit alcohol use
- Take aspirin if it is recommended by your doctor (some people already take it if they have heart problems, which may help prevent colon cancer too.)
Treatments and Trends
If you are diagnosed, the treatment and prognosis depend on how early it is detected. You may need surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation. The earlier it is detected, the better the outcome. The five-year survival rate for colon cancer that has not spread is 91 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. However, the five-year survival rate for colon cancer that has spread to other organs is 13 percent. Doctors are now seeing that more and more people between ages 40 to 50 are being diagnosed, which is the main reason the age for recommended screening has been lowered from 50 to 45.
Colon cancer is serious, but it can often be prevented or treated if detected early. Screening saves lives. If you’re 45 or older — or have any risk factors — talk to your doctor about getting tested. It’s a simple step that could protect your health and keep you in control of your health.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
