It was August 2020, amidst a global pandemic, when the world was about to experience another massive heartbreak when headlines read “Chadwick Boseman: Black Panther star dies of cancer aged 43.”
It was colon cancer that caused the death of this beloved and influential actor. You may be shocked to know that, in the United States, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth leading cause in women. Combined, it’s the second most common cause of cancer deaths.
Additionally, experts anticipate approximately 53,000 deaths this year due to colorectal cancer. That is why we at Direct Primary Care of Boca encourage everyone, members or not, to get colorectal screening.
How do you get colorectal cancer?
Nearly all colorectal cancers begin as abnormal growths (precancerous polyps) in the colon or rectum. Polyps can be present in the colon for years before cancer develops, and symptoms of these polyps may not be detectable in their early stages. That is why early screening for precancerous polyps is vital. In addition to this, the removal of these polyps is imperative before they turn into cancer.
Common signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer
Symptoms and signs from colorectal cancer may not show immediately, yet if it does, it may cause one or more of these symptoms:
- Changes in bowel habits: diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days
- A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved after having one
- Rectal bleeding (with bright red blood)
- Discolored stool (dark brown or black due to bleeding)
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- Weakness and fatigue
- Unanticipated weight loss
What can you do to help prevent colorectal cancer?
- Diet: while ongoing research is taking place to determine if changes to diet can reduce your colorectal cancer risk, medical experts do recommend a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains with a decrease intake of animal fats. A diet similar to alleviating heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases is ideal to help prevent you from developing colorectal cancer. If you’re unsure about what dietary changes you need to make, we offer Disease Prevention and Weight Loss Counseling.
- Healthy Choices: various studies strongly encourage increasing physical activity, keeping a healthy weight, limiting alcohol consumption, and avoiding tobacco to reduce their risk of developing colorectal cancer.
- Screening: thanks to screening, colorectal cancer is one of the few preventable cancers. Screening finds precancerous polyps and detects colorectal cancer early to address which treatment works best. Direct Primary Care of Boca provides members with colon cancer screening with cologuard. Additionally, we offer referrals for colonoscopy and GI specialists.
Don’t wait to get screened for colorectal cancer. Your life is too important to be sidelined by cancer.
Sources:
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month [Internet] Colorectal Cancer Alliance [February 2024] Available from:https://colorectalcancer.org/get-involved/advocate/colorectal-cancer-awareness-month
Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer [Internet] American Cancer Society [Last Revised: January 17, 2024] Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/about/key-statistics.html Key Statistics for Colorectal Cancer Signs and Symptoms [Internet] American Cancer Society [Last Revised: June 29, 2020] Available from: https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/signs-and-symptoms.html
Colorectal (Colon) Cancer [Internet] What Can I Do to Reduce My Risk of Colorectal Cancer? [Last Reviewed: February 23, 2023] Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/prevention.htm
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