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Medicine Talk
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What is Colorectal
Cancer?
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Colorectal cancer is cancer that
occurs in the colon or rectum. Some
times it’s called colon cancer, for short.
As the drawing shows, the colon is the
large intestine or large bowel. The
rectum is the passageway that connects
the colon to the anus.
You have inflammatory bowel
disease.
People at high risk for colorectal
cancer may need earlier or more
frequent tests than other people. Talk
to your doctor about when you should
begin screening and how often you
should be tested.
Colorectal cancer usually starts
from polyps in the colon or rectum.
A polyp is a growth that shouldn’t
be there.
Over time, some polyps can turn
into cancer.
Screening tests can find polyps, so
they can be removed before they
turn into cancer.
Colorectal cancer is the second
leading cancer killer in the U.S., but it
doesn’t have to be. If everybody age 50
or older had regular screening tests, at
least one-third of deaths from this
cancer could be avoided. So if you are
50 or older, start screening now.
•
•
Are You at High Risk?
Your risk for colorectal cancer may
be higher than average if:
•
You or a close relative have had colo
rectal polyps or colorectal cancer.
•
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It’s the Second Leading
Cancer Killer
Both men and women can get
colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is most often
found in people 50 and older.
The risk for getting colorectal
cancer increases with age.
•
If you’re 50 or older, getting a
screening test for colorectal cancer
could save your life. Here’s how:
•
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Some people with colorectal polyps
or colorectal cancer do have symptoms.
They may include:
•
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Who Gets Colorectal
Cancer?
What are the Symptoms?
Screening Saves Lives
•
Health
Clinic
Blood in or on your stool (bowel
movement)
Pain, aches, or cramps in your
stomach that happen a lot and you
don’t know why
A change in bowel habits, such as
having stools that are narrower than
usual
Losing weight and you don’t know
why
If you have any of these symptoms,
talk to your doctor. They also can be
caused by something other than cancer.
The only way to know what is causing
them, however, is to see your doctor.
Types of Screening Tests
Several different screening tests can
be used to find polyps or colorectal
cancer. Each one can be used alone.
Sometimes they’re used in combination
with each other. Talk to your doctor
about which test or tests are right for
you and how often you should be tested.
Fecal Occult Blood Test
or Stool Test
•
Screening tests can also find
colorectal cancer early. When it is
found early, the chance of being
cured is good.
Colorectal Cancer Can
Start With No Symptoms
People who have polyps or
colorectal cancer sometimes don’t have
symptoms, especially at first. This means
that someone could have polyps or
colorectal cancer and not know it.
That’s why having a screening test is
so important.
For this test, you receive a test kit
from your doctor or health care
provider. At home, you put a small piece
of stool on a test card. You do this for
three bowel movements in a row. Then
you return the test cards to the doctor
or a lab. The stool samples are checked
for blood.
How Often: This test should be
done every year.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
For this test, the doctor puts a short,
thin, flexible, lighted tube into your
rectum. The doctor checks for polyps
or cancer inside the rectum and lower
third of the colon.
How Often: This test is usually
done every five years.
Fecal Occult Blood Test
Plus Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Your doctor may ask you to have
both tests. Some experts believe that by
using both tests, there’s a better chance
of finding polyps or colorectal cancer.
Colonoscopy
This test is similar to flexible
sigmoidoscopy, except the doctor uses
a longer, thin, flexible, lighted tube to
check for polyps or cancer inside the
rectum and the entire colon. During the
test, the doctor can find and remove
most polyps and some cancers.
How Often: This test is usually
done every 10 years.
Colonoscopy also can be used as a
follow-up test if anything unusual is found
during one of the other screening tests.
Double Contrast Barium Enema
This test is an X-ray of your colon.
You’re given an enema with a liquid
called barium. Then the doctor takes an
X-ray. The barium makes it easy for the
doctor to see the outline of your colon
on the X-ray to check for polyps or
other abnormalities.
How Often: This test is usually
done every five to 10 years.
Will Insurance or Medicare
Pay for Screening Tests?
Many insurance plans and Medicare
help pay for colorectal cancer screening
tests. Check with your plan to find out
which tests are covered for you.
To find out about Medicare
coverage, call 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227).
The Bottom Line
If you Te 50 or older, talk with your
doctor about getting screened.
For more information, visit www.
cdc.gov/cancer/ScreenforLife or call
the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer
Information Service: 1 -800-4-CANCER;
for TTY call 1-800-332-8615.
Source: CDC Publication »99-6949. CMS
Publication 411011 March 2002.
June 2004 □
Siletz News
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