Looking Where the Sun Won't Shine

The Natural Connection

Congress has officially designated March 2000 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The second leading cause of cancer death among American adults, colon cancer killed 55,000 Americans in 1998. It’s victims are among the rich and famous, like Audrey Hepburn and Charles Schultz, as well as your Southeast Georgia neighbors, friends, and family.

The tragedy is that 90% of colon cancers are curable if caught in the early stages by regular screening. Once the cancer has spread outside the colon, however, the cure rate is less than 10 percent. Still, less than 30% of patients over age 50, the ones most at risk for colon cancer, ever get screened for the disease.

Patients are considered to be at increased risk for colon cancer if they are over 50, or if they have a family history of the disease, or a personal or family history of colon polyps. A polyp is a benign growth that is on the wall of the colon that can become cancerous if not removed. Other risks include having breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer in the past, smoking, alcohol use, sedentary lifestyle, and a diet high in fat and low in fiber, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

The delay in colon cancer diagnosis usually occurs because Americans are often reluctant to discuss, shall we say—delicate issues—with their doctors. They often neglect to mention the warning signs of colon cancer, when they occur. Changes in bowel habits, such as small caliber or string-type stools, blood in the stool, or increased abdominal swelling and gas may go unmentioned for months or years. These symptoms, and others, such as nausea and vomiting, or unexplained anemia, weakness, or weight loss, can be signs of colon cancer and should be discussed with your physician. It is important to talk to your doctor no matter what your age is, if you have these symptoms, as colon cancer can occur even in young adults.

There are a number of methods of screening for colon cancer. The exact method that is used is tailored to the individual patient’s age and risk factors. Usually, a thin and flexible scope is passed into the colon through the rectum by a trained specialist called a Gastroenterologist. This allows the doctor to thoroughly examine the colon for any growths or polyps, and remove them if necessary. When the patient is properly prepared, and mild sedation used, the test is very well tolerated.

Although it is known that some cases of colon cancer are genetic, it is estimated that up to 75% are caused by lifestyle and dietary factors that are controllable. A recent study of 4,000 adults showed that those getting the most exercise (at least five times a week) had less than half the incidence of colon cancer than those getting little to no exercise.

Folic acid supplements were shown to decrease the risk of colon cancer by 75% in a group of 90,000 nurses. The women with the lowest rate had been taking vitamins with 400 mcg of folic acid for over 15 years. In the same study, it was observed that women eating red meat as a main dish once or more a day had more than twice the risk of colon cancer compared to women who ate meat only once a month. Diets high in calcium (1,200 mg a day) have also been shown to decrease the incidence of the disease.

The role of fiber in the prevention of colon cancer is not well understood. Most studies show that a diet with at least 25-30 grams of fiber a day is associated with a lower risk. It is believed that by increasing the rate that stool passes through the colon, we are exposed to less potentially cancer-causing substances.

We are blessed in our region to have a number of Board Certified specialists who are well-qualified in the diagnosis of colon cancer. Make a promise to yourself and your family this March to become educated about your risks, and ask your doctor if you should be screened. Walk more often, eat more vegetables, and consider vitamin supplements to decrease your chance of getting colon cancer. Learn how to protect you and your family from this disease.

To receive more information about colon cancer, please write to:

The Natural Connection, c/o Dr. Pauline Bellecci, Southeast Internal Medicine, PO Box 777, Waycross, GA 31501 or visit www.swampdocs.com