The basics
A colonoscopy isn’t exactly a pleasurable experience for patients, given that it typically involves drinking a diarrhea-inducing solution to clean out your bowel beforehand. But considering that colorectal cancer is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S., the procedure could be worth the trouble.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation helped work to make the annual National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month — beginning today, March 1 — an official designation in November 1999.
Click through the slides to learn about the disease — from risk factors to screening protocols and more.
The numbers
Estimates are that colon and rectal cancer — typically called colorectal cancer — killed more than 50,000 people in 2017, according to the National Cancer Institute. The same organization said 2017 would also include more than 135,000 new cases of the disease, which is the United States’ fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer. Experts say colorectal cancer is also very preventable and curable.
The symptoms
Signs may not always appear, but they could include everything from blood in your stool to lasting stomach pain or cramps to unexplained weight loss. You may also feel like your bowel isn’t totally emptying or experience weakness. Symptoms will probably vary related to the size of the cancer and in which part of the large intestine it resides.
What it (literally) looks like
Polyps — or abnormal growths — form in either the colon (large intestine) or rectum (which connects the colon to the anus) and could become cancerous. Proper screening can find these polyps, and if caught early enough, health professionals can then remove them before they have the chance to become cancer.
When to get screened
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force suggests colorectal cancer screening for adults between the ages of 50 and 75. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds that you might have to get tested prior to age 50 if: you or a close family member had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer in the past; you have a condition like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis; or you have certain genetic syndromes, like familial adenomatous polyposis or hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome). The CDC created a Colorectal Cancer Control Program to improve screening rates.
The test(s)
As alluded to earlier, prepping for a colonoscopy isn’t fun. You have to take laxatives in order to clear out your bowel, and then be sedated for the procedure. It’s recommended you get tested every 10 years barring polyps showing up or any other discoveries. It’s the best screening tool, but if you’re really trying to avoid the procedure, you can alternatively get certain radiological exams done or undergo stool-based tests. If you go for these other options, though, be warned you may need to get tested more frequently or have to get a full colonoscopy anyway.
Risk factors
In addition to the factors listed earlier, people may be at an increased risk for colorectal cancer if they don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables, are overweight or obese or don’t exercise regularly, among others. Age is also a factor, as more than 90 percent of colon cancer cases happen in people 50 years old and above.
More from U.S. News
8 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Colon Cancer
6 Options for People Who Don’t Want a Colonoscopy
What Causes Cancer? 5 Unlikely Claims Explained
6 Things to Know About Colon Cancer originally appeared on usnews.com
