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Grace Tan, a colon cancer survivor, understands the importance of early detection. A colonoscopy saved her life nearly seven years ago. Today, as a volunteer with the American Cancer Society, Tan is sharing her story with others to raise awareness about the danger of this cancer, the second leading killer of cancer patients in the United States.
The American Cancer Society estimates that colorectal cancer will take more than 57,000 lives in 2003.
Unfortunately, not enough people are aware of the seriousness of this disease, says Tan, and she wants to change that.
Her efforts brought her to Cupertino on March 3, when the city council recognized March as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
"It is so important that people get tested, especially people in the high-risk group," says Gay Crawford, co-chairperson of the Silicon Valley chapter of the American Cancer Society. "Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in that screening tests can not only detect the disease early when it is highly curable, they can actually prevent the disease from developing."
According to the American Cancer Society, the majority of colorectal cancers develop from polyps, which are grape-like growths that can be found on the lining of the colon and rectum. Finding and removing the polyps can stop colorectal cancer from ever developing.
The prevalence of the disease shows up in statistics prepared by Ernestine Hambrick, M.D., founder and chairwoman of the Stop Colon/Rectal Cancer Foundation.
According to Hambrick, colorectal cancer affects men and women in almost equal numbers. Everyone has a one in 18 probability of developing an invasive colorectal cancer during his or her lifetime.
About 75 percent of the population is at average risk for the disease, while 25 percent are at an increased or high risk.
According to Crawford, individuals in the high-risk group include people who are over the age of 50 and/or have a personal or family history of colorectal polyps or cancer. People belonging to this high-risk group should get tested early.
In addition, Crawford encourages people who observe any suspicious symptoms to see their doctors. Some of these symptoms include a change in bowel habits, blood in the stool, rectal bleeding, unexplained weight loss and chronic abdominal pain.
But no matter what one's background, people should visit their doctors regularly and discuss their cancer risks Crawford says. "This is a great first step in staying healthy."
There are many testing options available for the screening of colorectal cancer. For men and women of average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends starting at age 50 a yearly fecal occult blood test, a sigmoidoscopy every five years, a double contrast barium enema every five years and a colonoscopy every 10 years.
For more information on colorectal cancer risks and testing, call the American Cancer Society at 800.227.2345 or visit http://www.cancer.org.
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