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9 Facts About Colon Cancer

9 Facts About Colon Cancer

Mar. 4th, 2022

Colon Cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is a type of cancer that starts in the colon or rectum. It is estimated that 151,030 adults will be diagnosed with colon cancer in 2022. Worldwide, it is the third most diagnosed form of cancer.1

Here are nine facts about colon cancer to help you learn more about it, as well as the risks associated with colon cancer.

Colon Cancer is the Third Leading Cause of Cancer-Related Deaths

In the United States, colon cancer is the third leading cause of death. Colon cancer affects both men and women, and the lifetime risk of developing colon cancer is 1 in 23 (4.3%) for men and 1 in 25 (4.0%) for women.2

However, there is some good news: the death rate for colon cancer related deaths has been dropping for decades. One reason for this is colon cancer can be detected in the early stages, which allows doctors to treat it before it develops into other cancers.2

Colon Cancer Was Discovered By Dr. Aldred Warthin

In 1895, Dr. Aldred Warthin found a family he suspected of having colon cancer. In 1913 he published his first report on the subject.3

This paper was the first argument that cancer could be hereditary. It took some time before the medical community accepted his work, mainly until Henry T. Lynch confirmed many of his findings through research.4

Colon Cancer is Largely Undetected at First

When colon cancer begins, many people assume that they may not have it because they don’t experience symptoms. When the symptoms of fatigue, weight loss, changes to bowl habits, and cramps occur, many people will learn that they have colon cancer after a screening.5

It is better to detect colon cancer earlier rather than later because it can help your doctor assist you in finding treatments. It is recommended to have regular colon cancer screenings after the age of 45 because risk increases with older age. The CDC recommends that older adults between the ages of 76-85 talk to their doctor about getting screened and the risks.6

Smoking Increases Colon Cancer Risk

There are many risks associated with smoking, and those who smoke are statistically more likely to get colon cancer. In smokers, risk increases 19% in women and 8% in men. It was also found that the number of years women smoked, the amount of cigarettes smoked, and the earlier the smoking started increased the risk.7

Smoking is a habit that you should work to avoid because it puts you at risk for colon cancer and other health complications. If you believe that you might be at risk for colon cancer due to your smoking history, contact your doctor.

Polyp-Related Colon Cancer Can Be Prevented

While most forms of cancer happen due to a mutation in cells and cannot be stopped, polyp-related colon cancer has been found to be preventable. Polyp-related colon cancer occurs when polyps develop, which are noncancerous mushroom-like growths that eventually lead to colon cancer. Removing these before they cause colon cancer can help save lives and protect people from getting colon cancer.8

Often times, the colon polyps do not cause any symptoms. When they do they can cause rectal bleeding, changes in bowl habits, changes to stool color, and cramps.9

Family History Increases Risk

If you have a direct family member who has colon cancer, then you are more at risk for developing it in your lifetime. 25-30% cases of colon cancer are in those who have relatives who also have it.10

If your family members have colon cancer, talk with a doctor about your risks and check in annually for colon cancer screenings.

Colon Cancer Greatly Affects African Americans

According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, African Americans are greatly affected by colon cancer. African Americans are 20% more likely to get colon cancer than other groups and 40% more likely to die from it as well.11

One reason why it is speculated that colon cancer has an impact on the African American community, according to Cancer.org, is that they have a disproportionate access to healthcare systems and treatments. This makes them less able to access screenings and less likely to be able to afford the care that they need.12

Diet is Linked to Colon Cancer

The Continuous Update Project found that those whose diet consisted of processed meat, red meat, and alcoholic drinks had a higher risk of being diagnosed with colon cancer. They found that whole grains, foods with dietary fiber, and dairy products decreased colon cancer risk. Calcium supplements were also linked to lower chances of colon cancer.13

Eating a healthy diet can help protect yourself from colon cancer while giving you nutritional benefits. If you are at risk for developing colon cancer, talk to your doctor about what foods could increase your risk.

Health Conditions Can Increase Risk

There are certain health conditions that increase your risk of colon cancer, including:

  • Crohn’s disease
  • Familial adenomatous polyposis
  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBM)
  • Lynch syndrome
  • Type-2 diabetes
  • Ulcerative colitis

Spread Awareness About Colon Cancer

Now that you know some facts about colon cancer, it’s important to spread awareness to help others who may be at risk. Get involved by sharing your knowledge with your friends and family, which can help save lives by encouraging them to get regular screenings as part of their annual checkup.

Here at Saber Healthcare, our nursing and rehabilitation teams work with residents who have a variety of physical and mental conditions. To learn more about the services our staff provides, click here.

Saber Healthcare is an organization dedicated to providing consultant services to long term care providers. This article is for informational purposes and is not meant to be seen as professional advice. Please consult with a medical expert before relying on the information provided.

Sources

  1. “Colorectal Cancer: Statistics.” American Society of Clinical Oncology, Cancer.net. February 2022. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.cancer.net/cancer-types/colorectal-cancer/statistics#:~:text=These%20numbers%20include%20106%2C180%20new,with%20colorectal%20cancer%20in%202020.
  2. “Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer.” American Cancer Society, cancer.org. 12 January 2022. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html
  3. Schlussel, Andrew T et al. “The evolution of colorectal cancer genetics-Part 1: from discovery to practice.” Journal of gastrointestinal oncology vol. 5,5 (2014): 326-35. doi:10.3978/j.issn.2078-6891.2014.069. Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4173047/#:~:text=Aldred%20Warthin%2C%20who%20first%20suspected,cancer)%20over%20100%20years%20ago.
  4. “Aldred Scott Warthin.” Wikipedia. Last Updated 23 January 2022. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldred_Scott_Warthin
  5. “Colon Cancer.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Last Updated 11 June 2021. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20353669
  6. “What Should I Know About Screening?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last Updated 17 February 2022. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/screening/index.htm
  7. Reinberg, Steven. “Women Smokers and Colon Cancer Risk. WebMD. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20130430/women-smokers-more-likely-to-get-colon-cancer-than-men-study#:~:text=The%20risk%20for%20colon%20cancer,risk%20of%20developing%20colon%20cancer.
  8. “Basic Facts About Colorectal Cancer.” The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://fascrs.org/patients/diseases-and-conditions/a-z/basic-facts-about-colorectal-cancer
  9. “Colon Polyps.” Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 20 July 2021. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/colon-polyps/symptoms-causes/syc-20352875
  10. “Facts and Sheets.” Fight Colorectal Cancer. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://fightcolorectalcancer.org/about-colorectal-cancer/general-information/facts-stats/
  11. “Know the Facts.” Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.ccalliance.org/colorectal-cancer-information/facts-and-statistics
  12. “Colorectal Cancer Rates Higher in African Americans, Rising in Younger People.” American Cancer Society. 3 September 2020. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/colorectal-cancer-rates-higher-in-african-americans-rising-in-younger-people.html
  13. “Colorectal cancer statistics.” World Cancer Research Fund. Accessed 1 March 2022. Link: https://www.wcrf.org/dietandcancer/colorectal-cancer-statistics/
  14. “9 Must-Know Facts About Colorectal Cancer.” National Foundation for Cancer Research. 28 February 2017. Accessed March 1 2022. Link: https://www.nfcr.org/blog/blog9-must-know-facts-colorectal-cancer/