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Colorectal cancer can be treated successfully
Although colorectal cancer is the second leading cause
of cancer-related deaths in the United States, individuals
have an excellent chance of surviving if the cancer
is detected early. Unfortunately, symptoms of colorectal
cancer may not appear until the disease has progressed.
It's important for individuals to be screened for colorectal
cancer before symptoms appear.
Fecal occult blood testing is a common screening test
that a person can do in the privacy of their own home.
This test can detect blood in the stool that cannot
be seen by the naked eye. The American Cancer Society
recommends that all individuals age 40 and over have
a fecal occult blood test annually.
Fecal occult blood testing is not the only screening
tool for colorectal cancer. Other screening tests for
colorectal cancer are:
- flexible sigmoidoscopy, a flexible tube that visualizes
part of the colon.
- barium enema, an X-ray procedure of the entire colon
that generally detects large polyps or masses although
it may miss small cancers and pre-cancerous lesions.
- colonoscopy, a procedure that visualizes the entire
colon and allows for the removal of polyps or small
cancers during the procedure.
For adults age 50 and over, a flexible sigmoidoscopy
is recommended every five years while the barium enema
and/or colonoscopy are recommended every 10 years, in
combination with annual fecal occult blood testing.
Individuals with a family history of colorectal cancer
may need to be screened more often. Please talk to your
healthcare provider about your risk factors and the
screening tests that are appropriate for you. You should
also consult your healthcare provider if you experience
any of these symptoms: blood in the stool, a change
in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation)
for more than a few days, abdominal pain, weight loss,
the urge to have a bowel movement even after doing so,
intestinal obstruction and anemia.
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