Monday May 7, 2012
Image © Paul Hakimata
When was your colon cancer screening exam? Chances are, if you are under 50 years of age, you may not have even had one yet. If you are over 50 years of age and have been avoiding these tests - that's a bad idea. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- 53,219 people still die annually from colon cancer (as of the latest statistics)
- One-third of those deaths might have been prevented with screening
- The very early stages of colon cancer have no symptoms - only screening tests can detect the presence of early cancerous and pre-cancerous lesions
If you have a family history of cancer, genetic disease or bowel diseases, or if you are over the age of 50 (45 for African Americans), I strongly encourage you to read this:
There's a downside to the myriad tests we have available today - some people don't even know where to start their screening. Your doctor will help you get started, but I have included some articles about the different methods we use for colon cancer screening exams here:
In the event that any one of these tests has suspicious findings, your doctor may encourage a colonoscopy (if you didn't have one yet) and a colon biopsy to verify the presence of cancer. If cancer is present, your doctor will need to order a few more tests, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan or a positron emission tomography (PET) scan to look for metastasis (spreading of cancer outside of your colon).
When in doubt, talk to your doctor. He or she can help you tailor a plan to keep your colon healthy!
Thursday May 3, 2012
Image © Leslie Banks/Dreamstime
Although I've been a nurse for years, I didn't actively join the fight against colon cancer until recently. This rewarding path has allowed me to meet many incredible people who advocate for cancer awareness. Last week, I had the honor of learning about four exceptional children: Chloe Staten, Emily Brown, Abby Miller and Abigail Knight. Between the tender ages of 14 and 15, these children earned The Prudential Spirit of Community Award for their personal efforts in the fight against cancer.
As a cancer survivor herself, Chloe has become an advocate for other children fighting cancer. She has personally visited sick children and arranged fundraisers to help cover their medical expenses. She voluntarily participates in relays and radio programs to help raise awareness and money for the cause. Go Chloe!
Emily implemented a program to raise breast cancer awareness in her high school called "Sports for a Cure" - providing knowledge about proper screening and early detection at school athletic events. She has helped raise thousands of dollars for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Go Emily!
Abby uses her voice and guitar skills to raise money in public places for pediatric cancer research efforts. She can be found on YouTube, but she doesn't sing for personal gain. She uses social outlets to help raise awareness for children fighting a type of nervous tissue cancer called neuroblastoma. Go Abby!
Abigail started a project called, "Candy for the Cure" - a fundraising effort she hopes can help fund a cure for cancer. Abigail personally makes the tasty treats baking cupcakes and cookies based on orders from her community. Go Abigail!
These future cancer advocacy leaders have been named as State Honorees and hail from Oregon, West Virginia, Virginia and Alabama, respectively. They will be in Washington, D.C. on May 7th, competing for the title of "National Honoree". If you want to learn more about the Prudential Foundation Awards or our future leaders in cancer advocacy, check out the press release here.
Friday April 27, 2012
Image © A.D.A.M.
Recently, I've had a number of questions rolling in through email, all with the same distinct theme: polyps. The questions were from people, just like you, who wanted to learn more about how to avoid these growths in the colon, learn why they grow and who is at risk for developing them.
Because this knowledge is a vital part of reducing your personal risk for colon cancer and understanding how it starts, I've compiled a list of articles focused specifically on colon polyps.
Can They be Inherited?
Your family genes play a role in polyp development. If you don't already know, ask immediate relatives (parents, siblings) about any instances of cancer or hereditary bowel diseases, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) in the family.
How are They Found?
Typically, polyps do not have any associated symptoms, which is why routine bowel screening exams are so important. These tests can detect polyps in their earliest stages, allowing removal, if necessary, to prevent certain types from growing into colon cancer.
How Do I Prevent Them?
We already know that a number of lifestyle and dietary factors can increase or decrease your risk for developing these growths. Altering lifestyle choices may help reduce your risk of growing polyps.
What Do They Look Like?
Polyps are irregular growths - for this reason alone, they don't all look the same. The two main types are sessile, which are flat growths on the inner colon wall, and pedunculated, which look like teeny mushrooms. I've included a link to the gallery of polyps, which includes illustrations of varying sizes.
When It's Cancer
Although cancerous polyps have a distinct appearance, the only definitive way to tell if they are cancerous is through a polyp biopsy. This procedure can be completed during your colonoscopy (endoscopic, not virtual), if necessary.
Monday April 23, 2012
Image © Vriesela/Dreamstime
Excluding wine and technology, there are very few things that get better with time. Side effects are like that - you can ignore them and hope they'll go away on their own, but in the end, most of them get worse.
In regards to colon cancer treatments, side effects are defined as the adverse or unwanted byproducts paired with the desired effect (killing the cancer). These effects can be uncomfortable, mentally draining, or just a plain nuisance. The good news? Your healthcare team is trained to anticipate common side effects and has the tools to help you manage them - but first you have to report them to your doctor. Your healthcare team can't help you unless they know what you are experiencing.
Radiation, chemotherapy and even surgery for colon cancer -- there are potential side effects from each treatment modality that may include suffering:
- Fatigue
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Pain
- Hair loss
- Infection
- Fear, depression or anxiety
Some side effects are more common than others and not everyone develops these complications. If you want to keep physically and emotionally well during your mental health during treatment, learn about the potential side effects and treatment before they become unmanageable monsters.
