It is common that people with colon cancer don’t show symptoms at first. There are many colon cancer symptoms that are similar to less serious conditions, so talk with your doctor to discuss your ongoing health changes and concerns. Common symptoms of colon cancer include:
- A consistent change in your bowel habits, including constipation or diarrhea
- Ongoing abdominal pain
- Bleeding during a bowel movement or blood in your stool
- Vomiting
- Feeling that your bowel isn’t completely empty
- Unexplained weight loss
Genetics and age are the two greatest risk factors for colon cancer. Additional medical conditions that may put one at risk for developing colon cancer include:
- Inflammatory bowel diseases: Conditions such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis which cause swelling and pain in the lining of the colon and other intestines
- Inherited genetic syndromes: Including Lynch syndrome and familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP)
- Diabetes or people with insulin resistance
- Radiation therapy directed toward the abdomen.
While there is no proven way to avoid colon cancer, there are many lifestyle factors that increase the risk of developing the condition. Consider the following lifestyle changes to reduce your risk:
- Maintain a healthy body weight: Obesity has been linked to several types of cancer, including colon cancer.
- Stay active: In order to maintain a healthy body weight and to keep your body at optimal performance, it is important to move your body regularly. Aim for 30 minutes a day, five days a week.
- Maintain a healthy diet: Focus on eating fresh whole foods and reducing processed foods, as well as red and processed meats.
- Quit Smoking: Smoking is linked to more types of cancer than just lung cancer.
- Reduce alcohol consumption: Moderate to heavy drinking correlates to an increased risk of developing certain cancers.
New guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control recommend colon cancer screening beginning at age 45. People with a family history of colon cancer or other cancers should begin screening 10 years earlier than the age of the family member when they were diagnosed.
A traditional colonoscopy is not the only screening option to detect colon or rectal cancer. There are several non-invasive screening tests available. A positive or abnormal result from one of these tests can indicate that a colonoscopy is needed for a closer view of the colon.
Colonoscopy
During a colonoscopy, a doctor will use a thin, flexible, lighted tube to inspect the entire colon. This is a very thorough test. When at a normal risk without previous abnormal results, the test is only needed once every ten years. If polyps or other cancerous abnormalities are detected in prior colonoscopies, testing is needed on a more regular basis.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
Like a traditional colonoscopy, a flexible sigmoidoscopy requires inserting a thin, flexible tube into the rectum. The lighted tube allows the doctor to visually check for abnormalities like polyps. The doctor is able to remove most polyps during the screening and have it tested. Unlike a colonoscopy, a flexible sigmoidoscopy is used to check only the rectum and lower third of a colon. This test can be performed every five years, or every 10 years when an annual FIT test is completed.
CT Colonography
Also known as a virtual colonoscopy, a Computed Tomography (CT) colonography uses X-rays and computers to provide images of the colon. The images are then analyzed by a doctor. A CT colonography can be performed once every five years.
FIT-DNA Test
FIT-DNA tests uses the same technology as the FIT test, with additional detection for altered DNA in the stool sample. A FIT-DNA test requires the collection of an entire bowel movement, as opposed to a smaller sample needed for the other tests. This test only needs to be done once every three years.
Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOB)
A fecal occult blood test is used to detect blood in the stool. The test uses a chemical to detect blood in a stool sample. The sample is collected at home by the patient and returned to the lab. Test kits are available from your doctor. This type of test is often done on an annual basis.
Fecal Immunochemical Test (FIT)
The fecal immunochemical test is also used to detect blood in the stool. Different from a FOB test, the FIT test uses antibodies to detect blood in a stool sample. Collection of the sample is done at home by the patient and returned to the lab. The FIT test should occur annually.
Which test is right for each person is determined on a case-by-case basis. Your primary care provider can review your health status, family history and results of previous tests to help decide which test is best for you.
Where Can I Complete Testing?
Different testing options are available from different healthcare providers. Your primary care provider can likely collect your FOB or FIT test sample and send it off for analysis. If it comes back with abnormalities, they will refer you to a specialist.
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There are several factors that impact colon cancer treatment. Treatment options depend on:
- How quickly the cancer is growing.
- If the cancer spread to other parts of the body.
- Potential benefits or risks of treatment, which can vary a lot based on age, lifestyle, etc.
The most common treatment is surgery to remove the cancer and any nearby tissue or lymph nodes that may have been affected by the cancer.
