March is colon cancer prevention month. The colon and rectum are part of the digestive system that form a long tube called the large intestine or large bowel. The colon’s role is to utilize the nutrients and rid the body of leftover waste products called stool or bowel movement. Cancer occurs when normal cells grow out of control. Colon cancer can stay in the colon or spread to other parts of the body. It likes to go to the liver.
Colon cancer, while a top cancer killer, is one cancer that you can prevent. Caught early, you’ll have a 90% chance of surviving five years. Here are some tips from the American Cancer Society:
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day
- Quit smoking – Smoking has been tied to colon cancer so don’t smoke or quit
- Make red meat a treat – avoid processed meats, too
- Limit alcohol – men: 2 drinks a day; women: 1 drink a day
- Increase fiber intake – eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day along with whole grains
- Check stool for blood yearly after 50
- Colonoscopy every 10 years after 50 or sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Sleep at least 8 hours at night
- Get screened: Screenings are the first step to ward off colon cancer
Risk factors include:
- Age over 50
- Polyps (growths in colon or rectum)
- Family history of colorectal cancer
- Genetic alterations
- Overweight
- Smoker
- Heavy alcohol use
- Diet high in processed and or red meats
If you have any of these risk factors, you should get screened.
The Regional Cancer Partnership of Illinois is giving away free screening kits this month to individuals 50 or older. The free kits will be available from 2- 4 p.m., Friday, March 21, and from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 27 at Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI) at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 315 W. Carpenter in Springfield. The screening kit does not substitute for a colonoscopy, which is the best method to detect colorectal cancer.
Diarrhea or constipation, feeling bowel doesn’t empty completely, finding blood (either bright red or very dark) in your stool, finding your stool narrower than usual, having frequent gas pains, cramps, or bloating, losing weight for no reason, feeling tired all the time and having nausea or vomiting are all indications that you should see a doctor.
Get screened and prevent colon cancer!
-kc
Sources: American Cancer Society, Celeste Wiley, RN & Diana Weyhenmeyer, RN