Download To Your Health Colorectal Cancer: What You Need to Know

To Your Health
March 2010
Volume 2, Issue 3
Colorectal Cancer:
What You Need to Know
It’s not dinner party conversation, or a part of
every day social discussions. It’s not something
you hear about on television or radio. But it is
something everyone should be aware of. It is
colorectal cancer.
What does the word ‘colorectal’ mean?
The colon is the
large intestine or
the lower part of
your digestive
system. The
rectum is the
last several
inches of the
colon.
What is cancer?
In a healthy person, cells grow and divide in an
orderly way to keep the body working the way it
is supposed to. When someone has cancer, the
healthy cells change. Cells grow out of control
because the cells keep dividing even when they
aren't needed.
In this Issue
Risk factors
1
Symptoms
1
Screening tests
2
What are the risk factors?
Risk factors are things that increase a person’s
chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors for
colorectal cancer are:
Being 50 or older
Family history
Low fiber, high fat diet
Lack of physical activity
Smoking
Having had colorectal cancer before
Having conditions that cause
inflammation in the lining of the colon
Having polyps
What are polyps?
Polyps are clumps of precancerous cells on the
inside lining of the colon. Polyps can look like a
mushroom, or be flat against wall of the colon.
Removing polyps before they become cancerous
can prevent colon cancer.
What are some symptoms?
People with polyps or colorectal cancer don't feel
different, especially at first. If there are
symptoms, they may include:
Blood in or on your stool
(bowel movement)
Pains, aches, or cramps in your
Who gets colorectal cancer?
stomach that don't go away
In the United States, colorectal cancer is the
Change in bowel habits
second most common cancer killer for both men
(constipation or diarrhea)
and women. African Americans are more likely to
Losing weight without trying
die of colorectal cancer than any other group.
White people have the second highest rates of
The only way to know what is causing your
deaths from colorectal cancer.
symptoms is to see your doctor.
University of Illinois Extension is the flagship outreach effort of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, offering educational
programs to residents of all of Illinois’ 102 counties. Through learning partnerships that put knowledge to work, U of I Extension’s
programs are aimed at making life better, healthier, safer and more profitable for individuals and their communities.
University of Illinois * U.S. Department of Agriculture * Local Extension Councils Cooperating
University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
CHECK THIS OUT!
Urban Community Health is on the web!
URBAN COMMUNITY HEALTH
EDUCATION
http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/cook/commhealth.html
To Your Health is a quarterly newsletter brought to you by
University of Illinois Extension, Urban Community Health in Cook
County.
PREVENTION
INSPIRATION
University of Illinois Extension
Cook County
2205 Enterprise Drive
Suite 501
Westchester, IL
60154
Tel: 708-449-4320
Fax: 708-492-1805
Email: [email protected]
Contact University of Illinois
Extension for more information.
Health education workshops also
are available.
Sources:
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/index.htm
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/colon-and-rectal/page4
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/colon-cancer/DS00035/DSECTION=risk-factors
http://medicalimages.allrefer.com/large/colon-cancer-series.jpg
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/pdf/Basic_FS_Eng_Color.pdf
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Screening Tests for Colorectal Cancer
FACT: If everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests, as many as
60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented.
Colorectal cancer screening is
recommended for men and women
ages 50–75 years old. Screening tests
find and remove polyps before they turn
into cancer. Screening tests also can find
colorectal cancer early.
Fecal Occult Blood Testing
At home, you get a small amount of stool
to bring to your doctor or a lab. The stool
samples are checked for blood. This
should be done once a year.
the test, the doctor can remove most
polyps and some cancers. This should be
done every 10 years.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
This is similar to a colonoscopy except a
doctor puts a shorter, lighted tube into
your rectum to check for polyps or cancer
inside the rectum and lower part of your
colon. This should be done every 3-5
years.
Many insurance plans and Medicare help
pay for colorectal cancer screening tests.
Colonoscopy,
To find out about Medicare coverage, call
A doctor uses a long, thin, flexible, lighted
1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) or
tube to check for polyps or cancer inside
visit www.medicare.gov.
the rectum and the entire colon. During