Colon Cancer Blue Ribbon Awareness Angel

Colon Cancer Awareness Blue Ribbon Angel Art

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths in the United States. Early diagnosis, though, can often lead to a complete cure.  Almost all colon cancers start in glands in the lining of the colon and rectum. When doctors talk about colorectal cancer, this is usually what they are talking about.  There is no single cause of colon cancer. Nearly all colon cancers begin as noncancerous (benign) polyps, which slowly develop into cancer.

Colon cancer can almost always be caught by colonoscopy in its earliest and most curable stages. Almost all men and women age 50 and older should have a colon cancer screening. Patients at higher risk may need earlier screening.  Colon cancer screening can often find polyps before they become cancerous. Removing these polyps may prevent colon cancer.

The death rate for colon cancer has dropped in the last 15 years. This may be due to increased awareness and screening by colonoscopy.  How well you do depends on many things, especially the stage of the cancer. When treated at an early stage, many patients survive at least 5 years after diagnosis. This is called the 5-year survival rate.

What you eat may play a role in your risk of colon cancer.   Changing your diet and lifestyle is important. Colon cancer may be linked to a high-fat, low-fiber diet and to a high intake of red meat.   Medical research suggests that low-fat and high-fiber diets may reduce your risk of colon cancer.  Some studies, though, have found that the risk does not drop if you switch to a high-fiber diet, so this link is not yet clear.  Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol are other risk factors for colorectal cancer.

Some studies have reported that NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, celecoxib) may help reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. But these medicines can increase your risk of bleeding and heart problems. Your health care provider can tell you more about the risks and benefits of the medicines and other ways that help prevent colorectal cancer.

You have a high risk of colon cancer if you:

• Are older than 60
• Are African American of eastern European descent
• Eat a lot of red or processed meats
• Have colorectal polyps
• Have inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis)
• Have a family history of colon cancer
• Have a personal history of breast cancer

Certain inherited diseases also increase the risk of developing colon cancer. Two of the most common are:

• Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
• Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC), also known as Lynch syndrome

The above information was provided by Medline Plus which a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Let this Blue Ribbon Angel help bring Awareness to Colon Cancer.

Read more about Colon Cancer’s risk factors, treatment, and prevention on Medline Plus at  http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000262.htm

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