March, 2010
GetFitColville
Colorectal cancer, or colon cancer, is a common cancer that starts within the lower end of the bowel, the colon. This disease usually starts as a polyp, a small growth on the inside wall of the colon. If left to grow, it can eventually get larger, then invade into the wall of the colon and spread from there to the lymph nodes, liver or other distant sites.
We don’t know what stimulates the colon to develop polyps, which can become cancerous. We know that there are certain risk factors, as listed below.
Once the disease has spread outside the bowel, treatments such as radiation, chemotherapy or surgery have limited benefit.
Early detection and prevention are by far preferable to treating the disease once it has gotten established. Early detection is best done by colonoscopy. It is currently recommended that every person over age 50 should have a screening colonoscopy every 10 years. This should be started earlier if there is a family history of colon cancer at a young age. Regular colonoscopy can detect the disease in the early stages and nip it off before it becomes invasive.
Colon cancer risk can be greatly reduced by lifestyle practices. Most importantly, a diet rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables and whole grains has been shown to be beneficial. These foods are thought to be protective due to the fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidant protection present in them. Exercise is also linked to lower risk of colon cancer, as is low dose aspirin or ibuprofen use. In addition to including these things regularly, decrease alcohol consumption, stop tobacco use, and maintain an ideal body weight to prevent colon cancer.*
Wishing you a wonderful and cancer free life,
Your friends at GetFitColville and Washington Health Foundation
*Mayo Clinic Website