Colorectal cancers
Colorectal cancers:
•Risk factors: over 50 years old, obese, family history of colon or rectum cancer or polyps, diets high in fats, low in fiber, smoking, high alcohol consumption, lack of exercise
•90% of colorectal cancers are preventable
•Treatment: radiation, surgery, and possible chemotherapy
•Prevention: regular exercise, a diet heavy in fruits and plant-origin foods, a health weight, and moderation in alcohol consumption
Risk Factors:
- Different cancers have different risk factors
- Having a risk factor(s) does not mean you will get cancer
- Certain risk factors increase a person’s chance of developing a polyp(s) or colorectal cancer
- Diet
- High in red meats (beef, pork, lamb, or liver) and processed meats
- Cooking meats at high temperatures (frying, broiling, or grilling)
- Physical inactivity
- Obesity (Being very overweight)
- Smoking
- Heavy alcohol use
Who Should be Screened?
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People at Average Risk |
People at High Risk |
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Types of Colon Cancer Screening Tests |
Description of the Test |
Screening Schedule for AVERAGE RISK PERSONS |
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Fecal/Stool blood tests (FIT, FOBT, or gFOBT) |
Samples of stool are checked for blood |
Every year |
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Stool DNA Test (Includes Cologuard) |
Samples of stool are checked for blood as well as DNA changes |
Every 3 years |
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Colonoscopy |
A flexible, lighted tube is used to look at the entire colon & rectum |
Every 10 years |
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Sigmoidoscopy |
A flexible, lighted tube is used to look at the rectum & lower colon |
Every 5 years, with FIT or FOBT testing every 3 years |