March is designated as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, to bring attention screening treatment and research. Of note, it’s not just a disease for senior citizens.

Diagnosis rates for people younger than 50 has increased 2.2% annually from 2007-16, according to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.

The alliance also says the nation’s third most diagnosed cancer, afflicting an estimated 151,030 people in 2022. It’s also the second leading cause of cancer death, with an estimated more than 52,000 fatalities this year.

In observance of the awareness month, Manatee Memorial Hospital and We Care Manatee are hosting a free screening event this Tuesday (March 8) from 5-7 pm in the main lobby of the hospital, 206 Second St. E., Bradenton.

Anyone over the age of 45 is qualified to receive an at-home colorectal cancer screening kit at no cost.  Specimens must be returned to the hospital by March 31 to complete the screening. 

Also, colorectal surgeons, oncologists, gastroenterologists, primary care physicians and their staff will be there to discuss colorectal cancers and other care needs. 

The American Cancer Society recently recommended that adults without a family history of the disease should begin screening at age 45.

We Care Manatee, a nonprofit organization, will have information on-site regarding free and reduced-cost options for patients without insurance. 

For information, call We Care Manatee at (941) 755-3952.

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The colon and rectum are part of the body’s gastrointestinal tract. The colon makes up the first 6 feet of the large intestine, and the rectum makes up the last 6 inches. Cancers of the colon and rectum are typically grouped together as colorectal cancer because they have some characteristics in common, most notably the presence of abnormal growths called polyps.

According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 104,610 new cases of colon cancer and 43,340 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed in the US in 2020, and an estimated 53,200 people will die of colorectal cancer this year. Not counting some skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the US. Approximately 4.4 percent of men and 4.1 percent of women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in their lifetime.

Colorectal cancers generally begin as polyps that form in the lining of the colon or rectum. Most of the time, these polyps are harmless, but over time – sometimes many years – one or more of the polyps can turn cancerous. Often, the polyps cause no symptoms, especially early on, but eventually symptoms may develop.

When they are present, symptoms of colorectal cancer may include rectal bleeding; blood in your stool or in the toilet following a bowel movement; diarrhea or constipation that won’t go away; changes in your normal bowel habits, such as size, shape or frequency; abdominal pain or cramping; bloating or feeling full; appetite changes; weight loss; and fatigue.

Cancer is the result of mutations to the genes responsible for cell growth and reproduction, and these changes cause the cells to grow out of control. Some gene mutations are inherited and passed on in families, and some are acquired during your lifetime.

There are several inherited syndromes, including familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and Lynch syndrome, that can lead to colorectal cancer, but most gene mutations that lead to cancer are acquired mutations. That is the case with colorectal cancer, and certain risk factors may play a role in causing the mutations that lead to colorectal cancer.

Some of those risk factors you can change and some you can’t. Risk factors you cannot change include age – colorectal cancer is much more common after age 50; having a personal history of colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer, a personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, or a family history of colorectal cancer;, race – African Americans have the highest incidence and mortality rate of all racial groups in the US; or having type two diabetes.

There are also colorectal cancer risk factors that you can change. These include being overweight or obese, being physically inactive; eating a diet that is high in red meat and processed food, not getting enough Vitamin D, smoking, and drinking a lot of alcohol.

If you have symptoms that are suspicious of colorectal cancer or if something shows up on a screening test, your doctor will likely order certain diagnostic tests for colorectal cancer. These include blood tests and a diagnostic colonoscopy, which looks at the full length of your colon.

During both screening and diagnostic colonoscopies, your doctor will remove any abnormal looking polyps and surrounding tissue to examine under a microscope to look for cancer cells. This procedure is called a biopsy. If cancer is detected, you and your doctor together will plan a course of treatment.

Treatment for colorectal cancer may include surgery, which is the main treatment for this cancer, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, or a combination of these treatments. Systemic therapy is the use of medication to kill cancer cells. The types of systemic therapies used for colorectal cancer include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

The key to winning the battle against colorectal cancer is to find it in its early stages, when treatment is most effective. The best way to catch it early is through routine screening. The US Preventive Services Task Force recommends several screening strategies, including stool tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, and CT colonoscopy (virtual colonoscopy).

You should begin screening for colorectal cancer when you turn 50 and continue to be screened at regular intervals determined by your doctor. The timing of your screening is based on your personal risk factors for colorectal cancer. If you have multiple risk factors, you may need to begin screening at an earlier age or get screened more often.

Don’t be a statistic. Get screened for colorectal cancer and save your life!

With cancer, the cells of a part of your body grow out of control. When this occurs with the cells of your colon or rectum, it’s colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is an equal-opportunity disease. It affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups. Aging is a key factor for this disease, so it’s more common in people ages 50 and older.

According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the US, excluding skin cancer. ACS estimates there will be more than 100,000 new cases of colon cancer and more than 44,000 new cases of rectal cancer in this country in 2019. Colorectal cancer is also expected to claim more than 51,000 lives in 2019.

On a positive note, death rates from colorectal cancer have dropped over the last 30 years in both men and women, and are still dropping. This decrease is attributed to more attention being given to screening and early detection, as well as the development of improved methods of diagnosis and treatment.

As with other cancers, colorectal cancer is caused by changes, or mutations, in your cells’ DNA, which controls cell growth. Some of these mutations are inherited; they’re passed along in families. These include certain genetic disorders such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). With FAP, many growths called polyps form on the inner lining of the colon and rectum. Most colorectal cancers start as polyps.

Other mutations are acquired, meaning they occur during your lifetime and you don’t pass them on to your children. There are certain risk factors that can lead to these mutations in your DNA. Some risk factors you can’t control, like your age, but others you can control, and doing that can help you lower your chance of developing this cancer.

Many controllable risk factors are linked to your lifestyle habits, including diet, weight and exercise. The risk of developing colorectal cancer is higher in people who are overweight or obese, are inactive, or eat a diet high in red meats and processed foods. Other lifestyle habits that can have a negative impact include smoking and heavy drinking.

Colorectal cancer might not have symptoms in its earliest stages, and some of its symptoms are common to other disorders. But if you experience any unusual symptoms for four weeks or longer, see your doctor right away. Symptoms of colorectal cancer include:

• Changes in bowel habits
• Diarrhea, constipation or a feeling that your bowel is not emptying completely
• Blood in your stool that makes it appear black
• Bright red blood coming from your rectum
• Frequent gas pains, bloating or cramps
• Unexplained weight loss
• Feeling very tired
• A feeling of fullness in your belly, even after not eating for a while

If your doctor suspects colorectal cancer after you describe your symptoms, he or she will likely perform a digital rectal exam (DRE) to feel for lumps in your rectum. Your doctor may then order certain tests to confirm a diagnosis. Among these tests are a fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which looks for blood in your stool, and a barium enema, during which x-rays are taken of your colon and rectum after you drink a contrast liquid called barium.

Your doctor may also order a sigmoidoscopy, which looks inside your rectum and lower colon with a lighted scope, and/or a colonoscopy, which looks at your rectum and deeper into the colon. These tests are used to look for and remove polyps and/or take tissue samples for examination under a microscope for signs of cancer, which is called a biopsy.

Surgery is the most common treatment for colorectal cancer. Your doctor will remove the areas affected by the cancer using one of several techniques, which cut out varying sections of the rectum and/or colon. The technique used depends on the stage of the cancer and how far it has spread. But all of the techniques have the same goal: to remove as much of the cancer as possible.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are other options that are sometimes used, often following surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells. Ablation is another treatment option that destroys cancerous tumors without surgery to remove them.

Ablation can be accomplished using radiofrequency waves, microwaves, ethanol or cryosurgery. These treatments are performed through a probe or needle that is guided by ultrasound or CT scanning technology.

Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are newer methods for treating colorectal cancer. Targeted therapy works differently than standard chemotherapy. It uses drugs aimed at specific genes and protein changes known to cause the cancer. Immunotherapy works to boost your body’s own immune system to fight against the cancer cells.

While not all cases of colorectal cancer can be prevented, you can take steps to lower your risk. Make changes to those controllable risk factors: eat healthy, manage your weight, exercise, stop smoking and moderate your drinking. Also, follow your doctor’s advice about when to get screening exams for colorectal cancer.

The outlook for people with colorectal cancer varies by the extent of the cancer, but is best when the cancer is found in its early stages. That can only be done if you’re vigilant about managing your risk factors, monitoring your body for symptoms and getting screened appropriately. Do that and you can be a survivor.

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