Colon Cancer Awareness Month is promoted in March of every year to help everyone across the U.S. learn about the symptoms and prevention of colorectal cancer. This is the third most-common cause of cancer deaths in America.
Approximately 1 in 20 adults will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their lives, and it is estimated that 60 percent of related deaths could have been prevented with proper screening. Colon cancer is usually a slow-growing cancer, developing over a period of up to 15 years.
It is recommended that both men and women over the age of 50 get screened for colorectal cancer. Early detection is the key to prevention and treatment of this disease, which is preventable if caught early but can be fatal if caught too late.
Am I at Risk of Colorectal Cancer?
Anyone aged 50 or older is considered at-risk for colorectal cancer, so a biannual (once every two years) fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening is recommended. Anyone who has a family member who has been diagnosed with colon cancer stands an even greater risk and should begin testing at age 45.
People who have had the following health conditions stand a greater risk of contracting colorectal cancer:
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Other types of cancer
- Lynch syndrome
- Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
- MYH-associated polyposis
Stages of Colon Cancer
After a diagnosis of colorectal cancer, further testing will be done to accurately ascertain the extent of the disease and to determine its stage. This is done by conducting abdominal, pelvic, and chest CT scans, although the stage may not be firmly defined until after surgery is performed.
- Stage I means the cancer has grown through the lining of the colon or rectum but has not spread beyond the colon wall.
- At stage II, the cancer has grown into the colon wall but has not yet affected any nearby lymph nodes.
- For stage III, the cancer has spread into the lymphatic system (lymph nodes) but has not yet metastasized into other areas of the body.
- Stage IV is when the cancer has spread to other body parts, such as the liver or a lung.
Treatment Options
Depending upon the extent of the disease’s progression, your doctor will determine which steps will be taken to eradicate the disease. If polyps were discovered (and removed) during a colonoscopy but the polyps were not able to be fully removed, then endoscopic mucosal resection may be required to remove a small amount of the colon’s lining along with the rest of the polyp.
The doctor may also recommend laparoscopic surgery. In this surgery, the physician will make small incisions in the abdomen and use instruments with small cameras attached to remove the cancerous growths. The physician will also take a small section of cells to biopsy and ensure that the cancer has not spread through the lymphatic system.
Prognosis for Colon Cancer
Surgery is almost always necessary if colon cancer is found. The five-year survival rate for colorectal cancer is around 80 percent thanks to the slow natural progression of this type of cancer. If the progression of the disease is limited to the lining of the colon, this raises the chances of success to around 91 percent.
Gastroenterologists in Austin, Texas
Colon Cancer Awareness Month is a perfect time to finally get that colonoscopy you’ve been putting off. Austin Gastroenterology has offices conveniently located throughout the Austin area.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation at our location nearest you, or complete our appointment request form now. Let us help you be protected from a very treatable disease.
