Equally affects women and men, is not just a ‘man's disease'
Is the 3rd most common cancer among women and men in U.S. (behind breast
and lung), but is the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in the U.S.
Facts
Each year more than 145,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal
cancer and about 57,000 a year die from the disease, 28,800 being women
Increase in awareness and screening could save 30,000 lives each
year
Runs in families, but many women with colorectal cancer have no
known risk factors at all
Usually strikes people over age 50 (risk increases with age)
Often asymptomatic at early stage
It is curable if detected early
What are risk factors associated with colorectal cancer?
Personal or family history of colon/rectal polyps or cancer
Inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's)
Excessive alcohol consumption
Smoking
High fat diet
Physical inactivity
Overweight
Ashkenazi Jewish descent
Personal history of breast, uterine or ovarian cancer
What are the symptoms of colorectal cancer (usually not seen in
early stages)?
Change in bowel habits that last more than a few days
(diarrhea, constipation, narrowing of stools)
Feeling that bowels are not empty even after a bowel
movement
Rectal pain
Change in bowel appearance
Abdominal fullness/bloating
Rectal bleeding or blood in stools (bright red or very dark
stools)
Frequent, steady abdominal/gas pains
Weakness/fatigue
Unexplained weight loss
Film/mucus, slimy stools
Vomiting
What can I do?
Screening Colonoscopy: 50 years and older, every 10
years if results are normal (screening should start earlier
with personal or family history of colorectal cancer/polyps).
Colonoscopy is the preferred method, but there are other
screening options. Talk to your physician as to what is
appropriate for you
Healthy diet: less than 1-4 oz serving of red meat /day,
limit fat, eat at least 3 servings of vegetables/day,
increase fiber
Limit alcohol intake: Consume no more than 1 alcohol
drinks/day (1 serving = 4 oz wine/12 oz beer/1 oz hard
liquor)
Exercise: 30-60 minutes per day , 5-7 days each week
Quit smoking
Multivitamin with folic acid/day
Aspirin: 325mg/day (discuss this option with your
primary care provider)
Maintain a healthy weight
Discuss your concerns/symptoms with your primary care
provider
