Download Colorectal Cancer - North Dakota Cancer Coalition

Colorectal Cancer
Preventable
Treatable
Beatable
What is Colorectal Cancer?
• Colorectal cancer occurs in the colon or
rectum.
• The colon is the large intestine or large bowel.
• The rectum is the passageway that connects
the colon to the anus.
Why The Concern?
• Colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed
cancer for men and women in North Dakota.
• Each year, about 400 new colorectal cancer cases
are diagnosed in North Dakota.
• Each year, about 140 North Dakotans die from the
disease.
BUT THIS DOESN’T HAVE TO BE!
What Are The Symptoms?
It is very common for people with colorectal cancer or pre-cancer
to experience no symptoms at all. This means that someone could
have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it.
However, some people do have symptoms, which may include:
• Blood in stool (bowel movement).
• Pain, aches or cramps in your stomach.
• A change in bowel habits, such as having stools that are
narrower than usual.
• Losing weight and you don’t know why.
Who is at Risk?
• Colorectal cancer is most often
found in people 50 and older.
• The risk of getting colorectal
cancer increases with age.
How Do I Reduce My Risk?
• Make healthy food choices.
• Be physically active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid smoking.
Screening Is Key!
If you’re 50 and older or younger than 50 with a family
history of colorectal cancer, getting a screening test for
colorectal cancer could save your life. Here’s how:
• Prevention - By finding polyps in the colon and
removing them before they become cancerous.
• Early detection - Finding cancer early when treatment
works best.
Screening Tests
• Take Home Stool Test.
– Fecal Occult Blood Test or Fecal
Immunoassay Test (FOBT/FIT)
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy.
• Colonoscopy.
Who Should Get Screened?
• EVERYONE 50 and older.
• Men and women
• All races and ethnicities
• People younger than 50 with a family history
of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps.
The Best Screening?
The best screening test is the one that gets done!
Talk with your health care provider about what
screening options are best for you. If you have
health insurance, check to see what colorectal
cancer screening tests are covered.
Information obtained from CDC – Screen for Life, American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute
“The earlier you can
detect cancer, the
better you are. I
have to remember
where I was and
where I am now. I’m
a survivor, and I
always have to be
thankful for that.”
Keith Peltier with wife Cathy,
West Fargo, N.D.
Husband and Father
Owner of Proceeds, Inc.
Colorectal Cancer Survivor
How Colorectal Cancer Develops
Normal Colon
Graphic courtesy of Dr. David Perdue
Polyp
Colon Cancer
Stages of Colon Cancer