By Marcie Malone

Your colon (also known as the large intestine) is the lower part of your digestive tract. Your rectum is the last 6 inches of the colon. Cancer in either of these two areas is referred to as colorectal cancer or CRC. In the United States, CRC is the 3rd most common cancer and the 2nd leading cause of cancer-related death.

The goal is cancer prevention, not detection!

Most colon cancers develop from adenomatous polyps, which start out as small, non-cancerous clumps. These polyps will often appear mushroom-shaped as they grow, but may also stay flat or recessed. Screening detects these polyps before they become cancerous.

If the examination reveals polyps, the doctor will remove them (polypectomy).

Regular colon cancer screening begins at age 50 for people at average risk. Many screening options are available. Talk with your doctor about your screening options; together you can decide which tests are appropriate for you.

Risk Factors:

• Age of 50+
• Previous History of Colorectal Cancer or Polyps
• Inflammatory Intestinal Conditions
• Inherited Colon Disorders
• Family History of Colon Cancer or Colon Polyps
• Diet
• A Sedentary Lifestyle
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Smoking
• Alcohol
• Growth Hormone Disorder
• Radiation Therapy for Cancer

CRC Screening Options:

In the News: Improved and Simplified Stool DNA Colorectal Cancer Test

Doctors use tests to find DNA markers in the stool that are shed by cancerous and pre-cancerous cells in the colon and rectum. Older tests searched for multiple markers; however, the new test looks for only two. This makes the test easier to perform, reduces the cost, and facilitates distribution to local laboratories.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 11:32 am and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.