Preventing Colon Cancer: What You Need to Know
Among cancers that affect both men and women, colon cancer (cancer of the large intestine) ranks as the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the Philippines. Anyone at any age can get colon cancer, but more than 90 percent of colon cancer occurs in people aged 50 and over.
Colon cancer typically begins from small polyps which are fleshy growths on the inner lining of the large intestine. Most polyps that develop in the colon are benign and pose little risk on the individual, but some still are considered to be worrisome. The precancerous polyps or “adenomas” have an innate potential to evolve and become cancer, and the time needed for these polyps to become cancer is known to take an average of 10 years. Adenomas and colon cancer don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. You could have colon cancer and be none the wiser.
About 70 to 75 percent of colon cancer patients have sporadic disease with no apparent evidence of having inherited the disorder. The remaining 25 to 30 percent of affected patients have a family history of colon cancer, which suggests a hereditary contribution or common exposure among family members, or both. The other reported major risk factors for colon cancer include the presence of Inflammatory Bowel Disease such as Crohn’s Disease or Ulcerative Colitis. Lifestyle factors, particularly (1) a diet high in animal fat and protein, while lacking in whole grains, fruits and vegetables, (2) heavy alcohol consumption and (3) physical inactivity also contribute to increased colon cancer risk.
The good news is that the disease is highly preventable. It is said that if everyone aged 50 and older were screened regularly, 6 to 8 out of 10 deaths from colon cancer could be prevented. This is why you should ask your doctor about screening for colon cancer soon after your 50th birthday. If you are at a higher risk, you need to start screening at a younger age, and in fact be screened more often. Anyone with a first degree relative with either colon cancer or an adenomatous polyp should be screened beginning at the age of 40, or at least 10 years younger than the affected relative. There are several screening test options but a colonoscopy, where a long instrument with a built-in video camera is inserted thru the rectum, is the preferred screening test.
Because adenomatous polyps and colon cancer can run in families, it is important for you to inform your relatives if you have a polyp or cancer discovered during your colonoscopy. Always take note of your age at the time of diagnosis, and the type of polyp found.
While you can’t stop yourself from aging or change your genetic make up, there are things you can do to lower your colon cancer risk. Make some changes in your lifestyle and start exercising regularly. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables and whole grains and watch your weight. Don’t smoke and limit alcohol. The American Cancer Society recommends no more than two drinks a day for men, and one drink a day for women.
If you or your loved ones are at risk of getting colon cancer, visit your doctor today and talk about your screening options. Keep in mind that the most effective tool in the prevention of colon cancer is the one that actually gets done.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month. Talk to a St. Luke’s gastroenterologist about screening colonoscopy and colon cancer prevention. For inquiries, call the St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City Institute of Digestive and Liver Diseases at (632) 7897700 ext. 2042 or 2046.
Dr. Patricia Anne Cabral-Prodigalidad is an Active Consultant and Head of the Section of Upper and Lower GI Endoscopy of the Institute of Digestive and Liver Disease (IDLD) at the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig. Dr. Cabral-Prodigalidad completed her Fellowship Training in Gastroenterology at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital, where she now holds a position as Clinical Associate Professor. She further completed a Fellowship in Advanced Interventional Endoscopy, Endoscopic Ultrasound and Capsule Endoscopy at the California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California.