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Preventable if you just get tested.
Colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in Pennsylvania, but it doesn’t have to be. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if everybody aged 50 or older had regular screening tests, as many as 60% of deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented.
In Pennsylvania, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths for men and women combined. In 2005, 2,914 Pennsylvanians lost their lives to colorectal cancer. Our state's colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates are higher than the national average (57.9 per 100,000 compared to US average of 52.0).
Colorectal cancer screening can find and remove precancerous polyps and early-state cancer, thereby either preventing the development of cancer or detecting the disease at an early, more treatable stage. Precancerous polyps or growths can be present in the colon for years before invasive cancer develops.
Find out if you are at risk for colorectal cancer.
The risk factors for colorectal cancer are:
- I am 50 years old or older.
- I am a smoker.
- I have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps (tissue that grows out of the lining of the colon or rectum).
- I am obese.
- I eat lots of red meat or high fat dairy products.
- I do not exercise at least 3 times a week.
- I am a woman with a history of breast, ovarian, or uterine cancer.
- I have colitis (chronic breaks in the lining of the colon).
- I have chronic inflammatory bowel disease.
If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, talk to your healthcare provider.
SYMPTOMS
- Recent change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea
- Blood (bright red, burgundy or black) in your stool
If you answered yes to one or both of these questions contact your health care provider immediately.
PREVENTION AND DETECTION
Reducing the number of deaths from colorectal cancer depends on detecting and removing precancerous colorectal polyps, as well as detecting and treating cancer in its early stages.
Screening is most effective when done on a regular basis. You should not wait until symptoms occur since colorectal cancer can be a silent killer. If you are 65 or older, Medicare now covers colorectal cancer screening tests for eligible beneficiaries. When detected early and treated promptly, cancers of the colon and rectum are among the most curable.
Everyone age 50 and older should be screened for colorectal cancer.
The Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) detects blood that is not visible in a stool sample. Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a screening procedure that uses a hollow, lighted tube to visually inspect the wall of the rectum and colon. Colonoscopy is a screening procedure that uses a hollow, lighted tube to visually inspect the internal wall of the rectum and the entire colon. Adults should consult with their physicians about which tests are right for them.
TREATMENT
If cancer has been found, your doctor may recommend one or more treatment options:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapies called monoclonal antibodies
For guidelines and additional information:
JOIN US
The Pennsylvania Department of Health wants you to know what we know about cancer and take part in our free community based cancer education programs on colorectal, prostate, skin and ovarian cancers. To locate a program in your community, contact the Pennsylvania Cancer Education Network at www.PACancerEducationNetwork.com or by calling the Pennsylvania Department of Health at 717-787-5251.
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