March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

“Most people get a bit heavier over the holidays,” says Dr. Kenneth Rolston, a retired MD Anderson infectious disease specialist who was 66 when he was diagnosed. “But I’d been losing weight steadily for about four months and I was not trying to. I was also experiencing fatigue. My wife said “You are literally melting away before my eyes. What’s it going to take to get you to go to the doctor?” (MD Anderson; How I knew I had Colorectal Cancer; 2022) Read more of his story HERE.

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer diagnosed in the U.S. and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States behind lung cancer.  However, it’s over 90% survivable if caught early, but the survival rate drops significantly if the cancer spreads beyond the colon. The most effective way to prevent colorectal cancer is by screening for polyps during a routine colonoscopy procedure. More than half of colorectal cancer-related deaths could be prevented if screening tests were done in a timely manner. A colon polyp is a small clump of cells that form on the lining of the colon and can be harmless, but over time these polyps can develop into colon cancer. Precancerous polyps found during a colonoscopy can usually be removed at the same time of the procedure, thus allowing any cancer in the early stages to be found and treatment is more likely to be successful. This emphasizes the importance of scheduling your colonoscopy now.

Factors that increase your risk of colon cancer include:

• Older age: Colon cancer can happen at any age, but most people with colon cancer are older than 50. The numbers of people younger than 50 who have colon cancer has been growing steadily.
• Race and Sex: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), males are slightly more likely to develop colon cancer than females and colon cancer affects more people who are Black than people of other ethnic groups or races.
• Personal history of colorectal cancer or polyps: Having had colon cancer or colon polyps increases the risk of colon cancer.
• Inflammatory bowel diseases: Conditions that cause pain and swelling of the intestines, called inflammatory bowel diseases, can increase the risk of colon cancer. These conditions affect the lining of the colon and include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Your risk increases if you have inflammatory bowel disease that lasts more than seven years and affects large parts of your colon.
• Family history of polyps or colon cancer: If a close family member has colon cancer, you may have an increased risk of developing the condition. Close family members include your biological parents, siblings and children. Your risk may be higher if any biological family member developed colon cancer before age 45.
• Inherited Conditions: Certain conditions like Lynch syndrome or familial adenomatous polyposis may increase your risk of developing colon cancer. Colon cancer may happen if you inherit a gene that causes cancer.
• Low-fiber, high-fat diet: Colon and rectal cancer might be linked with a typical Western diet which tends to be low in fiber and high in fat and calories. Some studies have also found an increased risk of colon cancer in people who eat a lot of red meat and processed meat.
• Not exercising regularly: People who are not active are more likely to develop colon cancer. Getting regular physical activity might help lower the risk.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes or insulin resistance have an increased risk of colon cancer.  If you are a diabetic or are caring for a diabetic, consider joining us with our Diabetes cooking class coming up on April 3.
• Obesity. People who are obese have an increased risk of colon cancer. Obesity also increases the risk of dying of colon cancer.
• Smoking: People who smoke can have an increased risk of colon cancer.
• Drinking alcohol: Drinking too much alcohol can increase the risk of colon cancer.
• Radiation therapy for cancer: Radiation therapy directed at the abdomen to treat previous cancers increases the risk of colon cancer.

Prevention/Lowering your risks: Making simple lifestyle changes can reduce your risk of colon cancer.

1. Diet: A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, whole grains, and fish can help lower the risk of developing certain cancers and many other chronic conditions. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains have vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants, which may help prevent cancer. Reduce the consumption of red meat to no more than three servings (a total of 12 to 18 ounces) a week, and avoid processed meats like hot dogs, bacon, and salami, because these foods can increase the risk of colorectal cancer.
2. Drink alcohol in moderation: If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount you drink to no more than one drink a day for women and two for men.
3. Stop smoking: Talk to your health care team about ways to quit.
4. Exercise: Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise on most days. If you’ve been inactive, start slowly and build up gradually to 30 minutes. If you have other medical conditions, be sure to speak with your doctor before starting an exercise program to make sure it’s the right fit for you. Consider joining one of the fitness classes offered on campus
5. Maintain a healthy weight: If you are at a healthy weight, work to maintain your weight by combining a healthy diet with daily exercise. If you need to lose weight, work with your healthcare team to reach your goal.
6. Follow recommended screening guidelines from your doctors:  If you’ve had a colonoscopy previously, be sure to keep tract of when you are due to repeat the procedure.

Working with your medical team of doctors:

The new recommended age to start screening is 45 years old, unless you have a family or medical history that would require you to start screening earlier. The incidence of early-onset colorectal cancer has been growing each year for those under 50.

It’s important to stay in touch with your medical team of doctors if you notice any changes or new symptoms.  You are the best person to know if something is “off”.  Don’t be afraid to share any concerns with your doctor. It’s also important to remember that your symptoms may not always point to cancer, so please talk to your doctor if you are experiencing any of them.

Some common symptoms of colon cancer may include:

• A change in bowel habits: Persistent diarrhea or constipation or the feeling that your bowel hasn’t emptied completely, or you feel you still need to go after going to the bathroom.
• Blood in the stool or rectal bleeding: Talk to your doctor if you notice blood in the toilet after you go to the bathroom or if your stool looks dark or bright red. It’s important to remember blood in the stool doesn’t always mean you have colon cancer. Other things such as hemorrhoids, anal tears, eating beets, or other foods may change your stool’s appearance. It’s always best to check with your doctor any time you notice blood in or on your stool.
• Belly discomfort: Ongoing discomfort in the belly area, such as cramps, gas or pain that are persistent over time.
• Bloated stomach: Like belly pain, there are many things that may make you feel bloated. Talk to your doctor if your bloated belly lasts for more than a week, gets worse or you have other symptoms like vomiting or blood in or on your stool.
• Weakness/fatigue/or shortness of breath:  These can be signs of anemia or low blood counts that can be a sign of colon cancer.
• Vomiting:  Talk to a healthcare provider if you’ve been vomiting periodically for no known reason or if you vomit a lot in 24-hour period.
• Unexplained weight loss: Losing weight without trying to lose weight.
• RED FLAG Symptoms: If you experience one or more of the following “alarm symptoms,” consider it a red flag and contact your doctor immediately.
  • Rectal bleeding
  • Stools that are black and either loose and sticky or tarry
  • Unusually severe fatigue (impedes your ability to perform daily activities)
  • Low blood count
  • Unintentional weight loss
  • Iron-deficiency anemia

I hope after reading this you will take the necessary steps to get your first screening colonoscopy scheduled, OR your follow-up colonoscopy if it’s time for you to repeat your test.  It’s important for all of us to be proactive in keeping up with our medical checks. The earlier we can catch things, the better outcome we will have if a problem is found. Don’t be caught BEHIND the eight ball!

Feel free to contact me HERE  if I can answer any questions or support you.

Lisa Crump RN, BSN, FCN

Parish Nurse