The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone 50 years of age or older start screening for colon cancer. The reason is simple. This age group accounts for about 90% of all new colorectal cancer diagnoses. As with many conditions and cancers, early discovery leads to the best chance for a cure. Screening uncovers precancerous changes that are easy to treat. 

Since March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, now is an excellent time to get informed about colon cancer, screenings, and how to schedule your screening with Dr. Kottapalli. 

However, there are few symptoms when these changes take place, so screening may be your only chance to discover colorectal cancer in its early stages. GI Physicians Inc. in Lima, Ohio are colon cancer screening specialists. Contact Dr. Ven Kottapalli and his team when it’s time to update your screening schedule.

What every adult over 50 should know about colon cancer

Even with advances in treatment, cancer remains a word that creates worry for virtually anyone. However, with early detection, colon cancer has an excellent survivability rate. Here are some facts about colon cancer you should know: 

• Anyone can get colon cancer, despite age, gender, or race
• Colon cancer affects about 1 in 20 people
• Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death and the third most-found cancer
• The 5-year survival rate for Stage I and Stage II colon cancer is 90%
• The 5-year survival rate falls to 70% for Stage III patients and 12% for Stage IV
• Colon cancer typically develops slowly, over 10 to 15 years
• Over the past 30 years, colon cancer rates fell due to screening and awareness
• People with colon cancer usually have no symptoms prior to diagnosis
• Only about two thirds of people over 50 receive proper colon cancer screening
• Most people with colon cancer have no family history
• When there is family history of colon cancer, screening should start earlier than 50
• Smoking, being overweight, and sedentary lifestyles each contribute to the risk of colon cancer

Colon cancer symptoms

When colon cancer presents symptoms, these are usually easy to confuse with other conditions, since they’re often shared with other stomach or bowel ailments. Common gastrointestinal symptoms that may be present with colon cancer include:

• Changes in bowel movements, including frequency, color, or consistency
• Blood present in your stool that’s not due to hemorrhoids or other known reason
• Cramping or pain in the abdomen
• Bowel movement urge when there’s no reason for it
• Unexplained fatigue
• Unexpected weight loss

Types of colon cancer screening

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recognizes these tests as acceptable for colon cancer screening:

• High-sensitivity fecal occult blood tests (FOBT)
• Stool DNA tests (FIT-DNA)
• Sigmoidoscopy: a device for visual examination of the rectum and sigmoid colon
• Standard colonoscopy: using a device like that used for sigmoidoscopy, but longer, to examine the entire colon
• Virtual colonoscopy: digital imaging using a computed tomographic (CT) scanner
• Double-contrast barium enema (DCBE): uses X-rays to visualize the inside of the colon, though it’s not as sensitive as colonoscopy procedures

If you’ve reached the age of 50, or if you have a family history of colon cancer, it’s time to contact GI Physicians Inc. Call the office at 419-419-5138 or request an appointment using the online tool. Book your consultation today.