Why Undergo Colon Cancer Screening

Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer in the United States, where 553,588 cancer related deaths are reported annually. Also, 25% of the elderly population will most probably develop colorectal cancer from a non-diagnosed colorectal polyp ten years ago. With this compelling statistic, you should already know the importance of why you have to undergo colon cancer screening. But if these figures are not enough for you to be convinced of the importance of colon cancer screening, there are more reasons to do so.

• If you are aged 50 and above, then immediately visit a physician for a routine colon cancer screening test since age is the number one risk factor in developing colon cancer.

• If you or your family have a history of colorectal cancer, Crohn’s Disease or ulcerative colitis, FAP or Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, or even the most commonly inherited Diabetes, then you should undergo a colon cancer screening test. For example, an individual who has insulin dependent diabetes mellitus will have a 40% risk of developing colorectal cancer. Other disease mentioned shall also increase the risk of colorectal cancer development as well. So you should go and ask for a colon cancer screening test in your local hospital.

• If you are a smoker, then you will also increase your risk in developing colorectal cancer besides lung cancer. So, you must undergo colon cancer screening.

• If you are an alcoholic or a regular at the local beer pub, then you must go to the nearest medical facility to undergo colon cancer screening since your risk of getting colorectal cancer as well as liver cirrhosis is high. But if you cannot stay out of the vodka, then choose to drink wine instead, since it is healthier.

• If you often have barbeque parties and dinners serving food rich in bad cholesterol, then you should want a colon cancer screening test since fatty food and charred food increases your risk of developing colorectal cancer.

• If you are of African-American or Native American descent, Vietnamese, Hispanics, Gay or Lesbian, then ask for a colon cancer screening test since you are at high risk.

• If you work in the night shift, exposed in asbestos or by any form of radiation, then you are at risk of developing colorectal cancer and other types of cancer as well. So, go visit your doctor for a colon cancer screening test.

•If you are living a sedentary lifestyle, does not exercise enough and suffering from obesity, then ask for a routine colon cancer screening test. The test may help you in finding out if you have developed a polyp.

In closing, it is important for you to know that colorectal cancer starts from a benign colorectal polyp, and curing a polyp is much easier than surviving the ordeal of cancer. We should also know that the American Cancer Society advises individuals beginning at age 50 to have a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) every year, a flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) and a double-contrast barium enema every five years, and a colonoscopy every ten years. So, if you would like to prevent colorectal cancer, then detect it early by going to the nearest hospital for a colon cancer screening test.

Colon Cancer