Question:
I’ve noticed that today people talk openly about rectal cancer. This isn’t
something you used to discuss in polite company. Why is this?
Answer:
There is a new attitude that protecting your life is more important than
protecting your sensibilities. I think the new openness is helping to reduce
cancer deaths.
This reminds me of my friend, Pete, who has a “colonoscopy
rule.” He insists that, if a bunch of us geezers are talking about aches, maladies
and visits to the doctors, everyone has to change the subject as soon as
someone uses the word “colonoscopy.” Usually we switch to grandchildren, which
is a lot more fun.
Colorectal cancer — cancer of the colon or rectum — is the
second leading cause of death from cancer in the
United States. Early detection of colon cancer is especially important because,
if it is found in its early stages, it can be cured nine out of ten times.
Who’s at risk? The chances of getting it increase with age.
But other risk factors include polyps, your history, diet and whether you’ve
had ulcerative colitis.
Polyps are benign growths on the inner wall of the colon and
rectum. Not all polyps become cancerous, but nearly all colon cancers start as
polyps.
Colorectal cancer seems to run in families, and someone who
has already had colorectal cancer may develop this disease a second time. So greater vigilance is a good idea if you or your relatives have
had it.
This form of cancer is more likely among people on a diet high
in fat, protein, calories, alcohol, and both red and white meat. Low-fat,
high-fiber diets seem better for the colon.
Ulcerative colitis is a condition in which there is a
chronic break in the lining of the colon. Having this condition increases a
person’s chance of developing colorectal cancer.
The following are some symptoms of colorectal cancer: blood
in the stool, diarrhea, constipation, stools that are
narrower than usual, frequent gas pains or cramps, unexplained weight loss,
unrelieved fatigue and/or vomiting.
Go to your doctor if you have symptoms. The medical
profession has many detection tools. These include: a test to check for hidden
blood in the stool; a sigmoidoscope, a lighted
instrument for examining the rectum and lower colon; a colonoscope,
a lighted instrument to examine the rectum and entire colon; a barium enema
with a series of x-rays of the colon and rectum, and a digital rectal exam to
feel for abnormal areas.
Two recent studies showed that colonoscopy can find many
pre-cancerous polyps that sigmoidoscopy misses.
Another major advantage of colonoscopy is that it enables the doctor to remove
any polyps found during the procedure.
There is a “virtual colonoscopy,” a minimally invasive
procedure. Doctors are able to see the entire colon using 3-D computer graphics
from a computerized tomography scan, or CT scan. Known as “CT colonography,” this exam is an alternative for patients who
are at risk of complications from colonoscopy such as patients who are frail.
If a virtual colonoscopy finds significant polyps, they have to be removed by
conventional colonoscopy.
If you have a question, please write to fredcicetti@gmail.com.
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Rights Reserved © 2007 by Fred Cicetti