Wellness Watch is a health information and advice column from OhioHealth.
ATHENS, Ohio – Preventable. Treatable. Beatable. That’s what leading medical experts want people to know about colorectal cancer, the third most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
“It’s completely preventable,” said Dr. Stephanie Dunkle-Blatter, a surgeon with OhioHealth Physician Group in Athens. “It starts as a little polyp, and with colonoscopy, we can remove these polyps before they become cancer.”
During Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, Dunkle-Blatter and other physicians want to emphasize the fact that regular screening saves lives by preventing and often curing cancer. The five-year survival rate for CRCs that are detected while still in the colon is 91%, but that number plummets once the cancer has spread.
Who should screen, and when?
National screening guidelines say all adults should be screened for colorectal cancer beginning at age 45. Individuals with a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, who had a CRC diagnosis before age 55 should begin screening 10 years before their relative was diagnosed and repeat screening every five years or more often, depending on findings. Younger people with possible symptoms also should be evaluated at an earlier age.
Colonoscopy, which uses a long slender tube with a small camera to see inside the colon, is the gold standard for screening, but at-home stool or blood tests are also available. Colonoscopy is a two-step process: using laxatives and clear liquids to clear out the colon day prior to the test, and the procedure itself, when patients are under anesthesia.
“You come in the day after your prep and take a nap,” Dunkle-Blatter said. “That’s it!”
An advantage of colonoscopy over other testing methods is that doctors can remove polyps immediately and evaluate them. Most procedures take about 30 minutes. Research from the Colorectal Cancer Alliance showed that 96% of those surveyed would get colonoscopies if they understood how successful they are at prevention, Dunkle-Blatter said.
Younger adults at risk
Once considered a disease of older age, colorectal cancer is rising at an alarming rate in younger adults. Today, one in five diagnoses occurs in men and women under 55.
The recent death of “Dawson’s Creek” actor James Van Der Beek at age 48 underscores a growing concern among cancer experts –– colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in those under 50, and the only major cancer increasing in that same age group. About 75 percent of younger patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage, when the five-year survival rate is low, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
Regardless of age, all men and women should be aware of factors besides family history that put them at increased risk for CRC, including diet, obesity, physical inactivity and inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s.
Taking charge of your health
While some factors, such as genetic syndromes and race, are beyond someone’s control, people can take many steps to help prevent colorectal cancer. “There are some amazing data on the positive effects of diet and exercise,” Dunkle-Blatter said.
When it comes to diet, think “clean eating,” she said. “Eat fresh fruits and vegetables and foods that are rich in fiber, limit red meat and avoid processed foods.” People also can take prevention into their own hands by limiting or eliminating alcohol and nicotine products, she said.
More and more studies are showing the benefits of physical activity in reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer. People should aim for a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, which is the equivalent of 30 minutes a day, five times a week.
“There seems to be more risk reduction with more exercise. It works by decreasing insulin levels, balancing hormones, controlling weight and improving bowel function and blood flow,” Dunkle-Blatter said.
Another key piece in preventing serious illness and death is being aware of symptoms, including:
- Abdominal pain
- Abdominal bloating
- Blood on or in your bowel movements
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Feeling as if you still need to have a bowel movement even after you go to the bathroom
- Feeling tired or weak
- Unexplained weight loss
While it might feel difficult to discuss bowel issues, raising awareness can lessen stigma and save lives. Dunkle-Blatter urges anyone over 45 who has not yet screened or who notices symptoms to speak with a doctor as soon as possible.
