Detect and Prevent Colon Cancer

Did you know that your colon plays a very important part in your digestive system? The colon is the first passageway of waste material out of your body.

Colon cancer is a preventable and curable disease that develops from the tissues of the colon. Although preventable and curable, it is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

Colon cancer does not discriminate and military personnel are not exempt from this disease. Beliefs or myths about the disease, screening, treatment, and reducing risk, prevent its early diagnosis in patients.

"We wanted to set up the giant, inflatable colon to inform the community on what colon cancer is, what screen entails and possibly even make appointments," said Maj. Mazer Ally, Gastroenterologist at Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC). "There is a stigma that goes with colon cancer and the screening process and we want to inform our patients so we can raise awareness."

The average lifetime risk of developing cancer is 5% which varies depending on the individual risk factors. Other risk factors include but are not limited to one's family history of cancer of the colon or rectum, a personal history of cancer of the colon, rectum, ovary, endometrium or breast, and a history of polyps in the colon. If you have one of the risks mentioned, recognizing symptoms is the first step to prevention.

Symptoms commonly associated with colorectal cancer are changes in the frequency or consistency of your bowel movements, narrow stools, rectal bleeding or blood in your stool, abdominal pain or discomfort, unexplained fatigue or weight loss, and anemia. If you find yourself with these symptoms, you should subject yourself to early screening.

According to statistics, men and women aged 50 years and older are more susceptible to developing cancer. 72.9% of colon cancer cases are diagnosed when they are 50 years old and older and 95% result to death. Colon cancer is curable if diagnosed on its early stages.

According to the American Cancer Society, cancer deaths may be related to lifestyle that includes poor eating habits, inactivity and obesity. Hence, changing this lifestyle would prevent the development of colon cancer.

The Gastroenterology department at TAMC encourages you to practice healthy eating habits like eating more fruits and vegetables, limit fast foods, use meat substitutes, limit alcohol, exercise and watch your weight.

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