It is the third most common cancer among men and women in the United States, but some people are embarrassed to talk about it. Colorectal cancer contributes to 56,000 deaths each year. Yet the Centers for Disease Control found that few adults are being screened for it. The American Cancer Society recommends that screenings begin for most adults at age 50.

A fecal occult blood test helps doctors look for hidden (occult) blood in the stool. You take a kit home, obtain stool specimens and return the test to the doctor’s office or lab for analysis. Adults age 50 or older should have a fecal occult blood test every year.

Guidelines also recommend that adults have a flexible sigmoidoscopy and digital rectal exam every five years. Your doctor uses the fiber-optic sigmoidoscope, a flexible, lighted tube to look inside the rectum and lower colon. A digital rectal exam involves your doctor feeling for abnormalities and evaluating the stool for occult blood.

A colonoscopy is similar to a sigmoidoscopy but looks at the entire colon. These exams can detect pre-cancerous polyps on actively growing cancers in the colon. Often the colonoscopy is done in the outpatient department of a hospital. Your doctor also may order a barium enema which uses contrast material (barium) for X-rays of the intestines.

When found in its earliest stage and treated promptly, colorectal cancer has a relative five-year survival rate of 91%. Including more fruit, vegetables and whole grains in your diet, and reducing the amount of fat, may help you prevent the disease.

Warning signs to report to your doctor include:

• Any change in bowel habits
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Blood on or in the stool (either bright red or very dark in color)
• Narrower stools than usual
• General stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness, and/or cramps)
• Frequent gas pains
• A feeling that the bowel doesn’t completely empty
• Weight loss with no known reason
• Constant tiredness

David Hyams, MD., Director of Surgical Oncology at the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of the Desert, says that prompt attention to the warning signs of colorectal cancer can make a big difference in treatment. "New approaches to colorectal cancer management may reduce the chances of needing a colostomy," says Dr. Hyams.

Additionally important to screening for new colorectal cancer is the need to follow patients for the possibility of recurrence. Dr. Hyams goes on to state, "these days, many patients with colorectal cancer may avoid recurring disease. Our armamentarium of new surgical tools and medical interventions is continually increasing."

For more information on screenings for colorectal cancer, call (760) 323-6498. For more information regarding the management of already diagnosed colorectal cancer, contact the Comprehensive Cancer Centers of the Desert at Desert Regional Medical Center at (760) 416.4873.