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| Colon Cancer Awareness |
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Colorectal cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer death in Michigan; but it doesn't have to be because if caught early, it is highly curable.
Colorectal cancer is most common in men and women over 50. Therefore, a yearly Fecal Occult Blood Test
is recommended, beginning at age 50.
The following are other valuable tests used for detecting colorectal cancer. Discuss the options with your personal physician.
flexible sigmoidoscopy *
colonoscopy or
double contrast barium enema
Individuals who have immediate family history of colorectal polyps or cancer, or those who have inflammatory bowel disease are considered high risk and should be tested earlier and more regularly than other people.
* "Researchers comparing two common methods of screening symptom-free patients for signs of possible colorectal cancer found that colonoscopy (which examines the entire colon) was more effective than flexible sigmoidoscopy (which examines only the first third of the colon) - a finding supported by other studies. However, the researchers also found that the less-invasive sigmoidoscopy MISSED TWO-THIRDS of tumors or potential tumors in women, twice as many as it missed in men." www.cancer.gov
The following signs or symptoms can be an indication of problems:
Blood in or on your bowel movement
Pain, aching, or cramping with no explanation
A change in bowel movement appearance
Unexplained weight loss
Remember - colorectal cancer often has no symptoms until it is very advanced. That's why regular screening tests are so important. |
To Decrease Your Colon Cancer Risk: |
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- Limit your intake of saturated fat (found in full fat dairy products, animal fats and fatty meats)
- Eat 25-35 grams of fiber daily (wheat bran, legumes, whole grains, fruits and vegetables)
- Antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables
- Get plenty of calcium
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Don't smoke and limit alcohol intake
- Exercise 30 minutes a day
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Ask your doctor about taking daily aspirin
- Get regular colon screenings. Schedule yours today and remind someone you love to schedule theirs.
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Can exercise reduce your risk of colorectal cancer?
Some studies indicate a relationship between colon cancer and exercise.
According to the American Cancer Society: "Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days. This helps speed food through the digestive tract, so any cancer-causing agents in food don't have time to do much damage. And, you should maintain a healthy body weight because being overweight can increase your colorectal cancer risk."
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