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Colon Cancer - Your Risk, Prevention and Treatmentcouple hiking

The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 153,760 new cases of colorectal cancer diagnosed in the U.S. in 2007. That means a person in the U.S. is diagnosed with colorectal cancer every 4 minutes.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among men and women in the United States and Canada (after lung cancer).

Early detection by appropriate screening tests can detect and even remove benign polyps and early cancers. The survival rate for people with colorectal cancers found early is more than 90 percent.

Call Avera McKennan at 1-877-AT-AVERA to learn more or inquire about scheduling the proper test.

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What you can do to decrease your risk for colorectal cancer:

  • Lifestyle Changes. By improving your diet, increasing your physical activity, not smoking, and limiting your use of alcohol you can lower your risk of colorectal cancer.
  • Personal and Family Medical History. Learning about the role of your personal and family history in the development of colorectal cancer can help ensure that you seek appropriate tests, which can help detect the disease at an earlier, more treatable stage.
  • Early Detection. With regular screening, colorectal cancer can be found early, when treatment is most effective. In many cases, screening can prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing polyps before they become cancer. And if cancer is present, earlier detection means a chance at a longer life.

Beginning at the age of 50, both men and women should have one of these five testing schedules: Yearly fecal occult blood test, Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, Yearly fecal occult blood test plus flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, or a colonoscopy every 10 years.

Treatment Options

Colon cancer is best treated with surgery at an early stage. A number of new drugs have become available in the last few years for people with widespread disease.

Learn more about Colorectal Cancer by visiting:

If you are concerned about colon cancer, have any questions or would like to discuss a test procedure, call Avera McKennan ASK-A-NURSE at 605-322-6877 or 800-658-3535 or contact your family physician.