Know your risks when it comes to colon cancer

Two years ago, I received the phone call we all dread. It was my sister. “Dad has cancer,” she said.

I soon found myself caring for my dear, sweet dad through two surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. I learned how to change a colostomy bag and flush an IV line, and spent hours learning all I could about this disease that was threatening to take someone I loved.

According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer is the fourth most common cancer among both men and women. While the exact causes are not known, certain factors are linked to an increased chance of developing colon cancer:

n Age. Most people who develop colon cancer are over the age of 50.

n Personal or family history. A person who has had colon cancer is at increased risk of developing it again. Parents, siblings or children of a person who has had colon cancer are also at higher risk.

n Polyps. Colon cancer may develop in certain polyps, called adenomas.

n Ulcerative Colitis or Crohn's disease. People with these conditions may be at higher risk.

n Diet. Some evidence suggests colon cancer may be associated with a diet high in fat and calories and low in fiber.

The most common symptom of colon cancer is a change in bowel habits, such as having diarrhea or constipation; feeling that your bowel does not empty completely; blood in your stool; stools narrower than usual; or frequent gas pains, cramps or bloating.

These are common symptoms that most experience at one time or another, and they usually aren't due to cancer. It's precisely because they're so common, though, that it's important to talk with your doctor about when to begin screening for colon cancer.

Here are the available screening tests:

n Colonoscopy. Examines the rectum and entire colon using a lighted instrument.

n Sigmoidoscopy. Examines the rectum and lower colon.

n Fecal occult blood test. Checks for hidden blood in the stool.

n Double contrast barium enema. A series of x-rays of the entire colon and rectum.

n Digital rectal exam. Examines the lower part of the rectum.

As with all cancers, early detection increases the chance of successful treatment. My dad didn't take that route—he waited until something was seriously wrong to admit that there was a problem. But thanks to the extraordinary care of physicians who now seem like family, my dear dad is now recovered and going strong. His story is a cautionary tale with a cautiously-optimistic ending, but he's the first to say he should have seen a doctor at the first sign of trouble. And therein lies the lesson for the rest of us.

n Lynda Metz is the director of community development at Bonner General Hospital. The facts and statistics in this article were provided courtesy of the National Cancer Institute. For more information, visit www.cancer.gov.