What is my risk for colorectal cancer?
About 6 percent of men in the United States develop colorectal cancer at some point in their lifetime, or about one in 17. Among both men and women, an estimated 150,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. After lung cancer, colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer deaths, with an estimated 52,000 deaths annually.

Does anything put me at higher risk?
Age is the most significant risk factor. Over 90 percent of cases happen over the age of 50. There are some things you can’t change that put you at higher risk, including a family history of the disease, previous colorectal cancer or a history of Inflammatory Bowel Disease. You can take steps to lessen your risk by losing weight, not smoking, exercising, modifying alcohol consumption, eating less red or processed meat, and including more fruits and vegetables in your diet.

What can I do to protect myself?
Other than making lifestyle changes, your most important line of defense against colorectal cancer is regular screenings. While screenings are recommended for everyone beginning at age 50, 40 percent of South Dakotans over age 50 report that they have not had any form of colon screening.

Why is 50 the “magic age?”
We see an increase in incidence of these cancers beginning at the 55 to 60 age range. During a routine screening at age 50, we can detect and remove polyps which may eventually become cancerous. Many colon cancers grow from small polyps, which over the span of 10 years, can become malignant.

What types of screenings are recommended, and how often?
The best scenario is finding colon polyps before they become cancerous. American Cancer Society screening guidelines call for one of the following: a colonoscopy every 10 years, a flexible sigmoidoscopy or barium enema every five years, or fecal occult blood tests every year. We recommend colonoscopy, because it examines the entire colon, and polyps can be removed at the same time the test is performed. Having a colonoscopy every 10 years will in most cases catch polyps before they become malignant.

How treatable is colon cancer?
If a malignancy is found at an early stage the cancer is treatable surgically with close to a 100-percent cure rate. However, only about 39 percent of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at this stage, mostly due to low screening rates. Colorectal cancer that has spread beyond the colon to lymph nodes or other organs may require additional treatment of chemotherapy and radiation, and survival rates are lower for cancer that has spread.

Why do people put off colonoscopies?
It may be fear of pain or embarrassment. Sedative medications make the procedure itself very comfortable. In fact, many patients wake up after it’s over and ask if the doctor is ready to start. The aspect patients probably dislike the most is colon prep for the test, which involves drinking liquid laxative the night before the exam to cleanse the colon.

What cancer warning signs should I keep in mind?
Most colon cancers are slow-growing and can be detected long before symptoms arise. However, you should see their doctor if you experience any of these symptoms:
• A change in stool patterns
• Blood in the stool
• Unexplained weight loss
• Abdominal pain

With Dr.. Cristina Hill Jensen, gastroenterologist with Avera Gastroenterology Clinic of Sioux Falls, and Dr. Michael Robinson, oncologist with Avera Medical Oncology and Hematology.