Colorectal cancer is cancer that develops in either the colon (the longest part of the large intestine) or the rectum (the part of the intestine that is closest to the anus).
Researchers have identified the following risk factors associated with colorectal cancer, including:
• advancing age (more than 90 percent of colorectal cancer cases are diagnosed in men and women over the age of 50)
• personal or family history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer;
• inflammatory bowel disease;
• smoking;
• a diet that is high in red meats or processed meats;
• being overweight or obese;
• heavy alcohol consumption;
• physical inactivity; and
• Type 2 diabetes.
Many people in the early stages of colorectal cancer exhibit no symptoms. If left undetected or undiagnosed, colorectal cancer can spread throughout the body. When symptoms do appear, they may vary depending on the cancer’s size and location. Talk to your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms: rectal bleeding or bloody stools; a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or a change in the consistency of stools for more than two weeks; persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas, or pain; weakness or fatigue; unexplained weight loss; or a feeling that bowels have not completely emptied.
The good news is that you can greatly reduce your risk of developing colorectal cancer if you get regularly screened starting at the age of 50 or earlier if other risk factors apply to you.
You can also significantly reduce your risk of colorectal cancer if you embrace a healthy lifestyle: become physically active, refrain from smoking, minimize your consumption of fat, red and processed meats, and alcohol, and adopt a diet that is high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
For information about the Department of Public Health’s Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, contact Joanne Ogo at 236-8728 or joanne.ogo@gmail.com. For information about cancer support programs in the CNMI, contact the Commonwealth Cancer Association at 682-0050 or cca@ccamarianas.org, or visit www.ccamarianas.org.
