MARCH IS NATIONAL COLORECTAL CANCER AWARENESS MONTH

What is Colorectal Cancer?

Most colorectal cancers start in the cells that line the inside of the colon or the rectum. The colon and rectum make up the large intestine (large bowel). The large intestine is the last part of the digestive system. Organs of the digestive system change food into energy and help pass waste out of the body.

Food is digested in the stomach and the small intestine. As nutrients are removed from food, it changes into a watery mass.

The watery mass passes through the small intestine into the colon. The colon absorbs the water, and the semi-solid waste continues to travel to the rectum. This waste material is known as feces, or stool. The stool is stored in the rectum. When you have a bowel movement, the stool leaves the body thorough the anus.

Colorectal cancer usually grows slowly and in a predictable way. It is curable when diagnosed at an early stage.

Causes of colorectal cancer

There is no single cause of colorectal cancer, but some factors increase the risk of developing it:

age - particularly after 50

family history of colorectal cancer - especially if the relative (parent, sibling, child) developed colorectal cancer before the age of 45

having polyps (small growths on the inner wall of the colon or rectum)

having familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or other rare genetic conditions

physical inactivity

obesity

a diet high in red meat

eating processed meat

alcohol consumption

inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease)

smoking

ethnic background - people of Ashkenazi (Eastern European Jewish) descent

Some people develop colorectal cancer without having any of these risk factors.

Symptoms of Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer may not cause any signs or symptoms in its early stages because the lower abdomen (stomach area) has lots of room for a tumor to grow and expand.

Symptoms often appear once the tumor causes bleeding or blocks the bowel. Possible Symptoms include:

a change in bowel habits

blood (either bright red or very dark) in the stool

diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the bowel does not empty completely

stools that are narrower than usual

general abdominal discomfort (frequent gas pains, bloating, fullness or cramps)

unexplained weight loss

feeling very tired

Vomiting

Other health problems can cause some of the same symptoms. Testing is needed to make a diagnosis.

From Canadian Cancer Society-613-932-1283

Call Community Health for more information 613-575-2341 ext. 3225.