According to the National Cancer Institute, cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide, and colorectal cancer is the third most common type in the United States. In fact, approximately 4.2 percent of men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their life.
You are at higher risk if you:
- Smoke.
- Eat a high-fat diet or a diet high in red meat.
- Live a sedentary lifestyle.
- Drink alcohol heavily.
- Have been diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease or have a family history of colorectal cancer.
- Have inherited syndromes linked with the disease, such as Lynch syndrome.
- Are African American or Jewish and of Eastern European descent. Both of these groups have a higher risk of developing this disease.
Still, there are ways to lower your chances of developing this kind of cancer. Find out more below.
Get Screened
Your risk of developing colon cancer rises after age 45, meaning this is when you should get your first colonoscopy screening. If you have other risk factors, your doctor may recommend getting your first screening sooner. Screening tests can help you catch the disease early in its development when treatment is most effective and chances of survival are highest.
Despite the importance of screening, less than half of adults aged 50 to 54 are up-to-date with their colonoscopy screenings according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The University of Maryland Cancer Network provides colon cancer screenings throughout its hospitals using a variety of different methods, including colonoscopies.
Know the Warning Signs
Aside from getting regular screenings, it’s important to seek medical attention if you identify any signs of colorectal cancer. The signs and symptoms include:
- A change in bowel habits—such as diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of the stool—that lasts for more than a few days
- Feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by having one
- Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool, which may make it look dark
- Abdominal (belly) pain or cramping
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unintended weight loss
If you have any of these warning signs, don’t wait for a scheduled screening. See your doctor right away.
