Fight Colorectal Cancer

Posted by UFMC Pueblo in Uncategorized | 0 comments

Fight Colorectal Cancer - It’s Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and with that we’d like to help you learn more about this type of cancer and what you can do to fight it. It’s a type of cancer that many people just don’t want to talk about, but talking about it can help save lives!   Did you know? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the following are quick facts about Colorectal Cancer

• Risk increases with age. More than 90% of colorectal cancers occur in people aged 50 and older.
• Precancerous polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have polyps or colorectal cancer and not know it. That is why having a screening test is so important. If you have symptoms, they may include—

• Blood in or on the stool (bowel movement).
• Stomach pain, aches, or cramps that do not go away.
• Losing weight and you don’t know why.
• These symptoms may be caused by something other than cancer. If you have any of them, see your doctor.
• Some people are at a higher risk than others for developing colorectal cancer. If you think you may be at increased risk, talk to your doctor about when to begin screening, which test is right for you, and how often to get tested.
• There are several screening test options. Talk with your doctor about which is right for you.
  • Colonoscopy (every 10 years).
  • High-sensitivity guaiac fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) (every year).
  • Sigmoidoscopy (every 10 years, with FOBT or FIT every three years).
  • Sigmoidoscopy alone (every 5 years).
  • Stool DNA test (FIT-DNA) every one or three years.
  • CT colonography (or virtual colonoscopy) every five years.

• If you’re aged 50 to 75, get screened for colorectal cancer regularly. If you’re between 76 and 85, ask your doctor if you should be screened.
• Be physically active.
• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Don’t drink too much alcohol.
• Don’t smoke.