Greenville Business Magazine 2010 March issue : Page 14
››columns Colorectal Cancer – Treatable, Beatable & Highly Preventable! BY COLIN P. CURRAN, M.D. “ ” T reatable and beatable are two welcomed words when addressing any form of cancer. However, prevent- able is the term of choice. But it demands a proac- tive move and periodic vigilance to catch it early. Remember – the first move is yours. Colorectal cancer is a term used to refer to cancer that starts in either the colon or the rectum. In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over many years. We now know that most of these cancers begin as a polyp – a growth of tissue in the colon. This tissue may or may not be cancer. It is quite reassuring to know that removing a polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer. Not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimated that there would be about 150,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer combined in the United States causing about 50,000 deaths. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. 14 GREENVILLEBUSINESSMAG.COM | MARCH 2010 The death rate from colorectal cancer has been going down for the past 15 years. The good news is the death rate from colorectal cancer has been going down for the past 15 years. Thanks to colorectal cancer screening, polyps can be found and removed before they turn into cancer. And colorectal cancer can also be found earlier when it is easier to cure. Treatments have improved as well. So, what are the risk factors? Several lifestyle-related factors have been linked to colorectal cancer. In fact, the links between diet, weight, and exercise and colorectal cancer risk are some of the strongest for any type of cancer. First, a diet that is high in red meats (beef, lamb, or liver) and processed meats such as hot dogs, bologna, and lunch meat can increase your colorectal cancer risk. Cooking meats at very high heat (frying, broiling, or grilling) can create chemicals that might increase cancer risk. Lack of exercise and being overweight increases a person’s risk of dying from colorectal cancer. Also, smoking, heavy use of alcohol and having type two diabetes increase the chance of getting colorectal cancer. However, there are risk factors one cannot change. With age, the chances of having colorectal cancer go up after 50. Having had polyps or colorectal cancer before increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Having a history of bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, increases the risk of colon cancer. If you have either of these diseases your doctor may want you to have colon screening testing more often. (These diseases are different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not carry an increased risk for colorectal cancer.) If you have close relatives who have had this cancer, your risk might be increased.
>>columns - Colorectal Cancer – Treatable, Beatable & Highly Preventable!
Colin P. Curran, M.D.
Treatable and beatable are two welcomed words when addressing any form of cancer. However, preventable is the term of choice. But it demands a proactive move and periodic vigilance to catch it early. Remember – the first move is yours.
Colorectal cancer is a term used to refer to cancer that starts in either the colon or the rectum. In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over many years. We now know that most of these cancers begin as a polyp – a growth of tissue in the colon. This tissue may or may not be cancer. It is quite reassuring to know that removing a polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer.
Not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. In 2008, the American Cancer Society estimated that there would be about 150,000 new cases of colon and rectal cancer combined in the United States causing about 50,000 deaths. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.
The good news is the death rate from colorectal cancer has been going down for the past 15 years. Thanks to colorectal cancer screening, polyps can be found and removed before they turn into cancer. And colorectal cancer can also be found earlier when it is easier to cure. Treatments have improved as well.
So, what are the risk factors?
Several lifestyle-related factors have been linked to colorectal cancer. In fact, the links between diet, weight, and exercise and colorectal cancer risk are some of the strongest for any type of cancer.
First, a diet that is high in red meats (beef, lamb, or liver) and processed meats such as hot dogs, bologna, and lunch meat can increase your colorectal cancer risk. Cooking meats at very high heat (frying, broiling, or grilling) can create chemicals that might increase cancer risk.
Lack of exercise and being overweight increases a person’s risk of dying from colorectal cancer.
Also, smoking, heavy use of alcohol and having type two diabetes increase the chance of getting colorectal cancer.
However, there are risk factors one cannot change.
With age, the chances of having colorectal cancer go up after 50.
Having had polyps or colorectal cancer before increases the risk of colorectal cancer.
Having a history of bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, increases the risk of colon cancer. If you have either of these diseases your doctor may want you to have colon screening testing more often. (These diseases are different from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), which does not carry an increased risk for colorectal cancer.)
If you have close relatives who have had this cancer, your risk might be increased.
Some racial and ethnic groups such as African Americans and Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi Jews) have a higher colorectal cancer risk. All of the reasons for this are not yet understood.
Even though we don’t know exactly what causes colorectal cancer, there are some steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Screening tests.
Regular colorectal cancer screening or testing is one of the best ways to help prevent colorectal cancer. Some polyps, or growths, can be found and removed before they have the chance to turn into cancer. Screening can also help find colorectal cancer early, when it is more likely to be cured.
People with a strong family history of colorectal polyps or cancer should think about getting genetic counseling to help them decide whether genetic testing or earlier screening may be right for them.
There are two tests that can find both colorectal polyps and cancer.
A sigmoidoscopy (flex-sig) involves a thin, flexible, lighted tube for viewing the lower part of the colon through the rectum for cancer or polyps. Because the tube is only about 2 feet long, the doctor is only able to see about half of the colon.
The recommended screening test for colorectal cancer is colonoscopy, which allows the doctor to see the entire colon. If a polyp is found, the doctor may remove it. If anything else looks abnormal, a biopsy might be done. To do this, a small piece of tissue is taken out through the colonoscope and sent to the lab to see if cancer cells are present.
Know your risk factors, address them and follow the recommended screening commensurate with age. A few simple lifestyle changes are key here and are the best advice to avoid this disease.
Dr. Curran is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology and practices with Palmetto Hematology Oncology at Spartanburg Regional’s Gibbs Cancer Center and the Village at Pelham.
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