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Family Medicine

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QUESTION: My 58-year-old brother just had a colonoscopy, and he said the doctor removed some precancerous polyps. This concerns me because our father died from colon cancer. Is there anything my brother and I can do to help prevent it?

ANSWER: Colon cancer does not get the public attention it warrants. Most people do not know that more people die from colon cancer each year than from breast cancer and AIDS combined. It is estimated that more than 102,000 new cases of colon cancer will be diagnosed in the United States in 2010. About 50,000 will likely result in death. Luckily, you have already taken the first step toward preventing colon cancer: informing yourself.

Colon cancer forms in the large intestines, and it begins as small benign polyps, like what your brother had. These polyps are precancerous, meaning that they will turn into cancer if left to grow. Had the doctors not removed your brother's polyps, he would have developed colon cancer.

Unfortunately, colon cancer seems to be genetic, so your family history does increase your risk. Colon cancer is more common in people over the age of 50, but it can also occur at a younger age. People who suffer from a chronic colon disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's Disease, are more likely to develop colon cancer.

The good news is that there are lifestyle choices you can make to lower your chances of developing this disease. Some are dietary: increasing your intake of fiber and limiting your intake of fat both help. If you smoke, quitting now can reduce your risk. So can moderating your alcohol intake. Diabetes and obesity are associated with higher rates of colon cancer, but fortunately, exercising and eating right are the most important treatment plans for these conditions, as well.

As you and your brother well know, an early diagnosis can save your life. Pay attention to any sudden, persistent changes in your bowel habits, especially if your bowels have always been regular before.

Examples of such changes include diarrhea or constipation for more than a week, blood in the stool and lasting abdominal pain with gas and bloating. Unfortunately, many people either have no early symptoms, or their symptoms are too mild to seem important.

This is why one of the most effective ways to prevent colon cancer is to get a colonoscopy when you turn 50. This routine cancer screening typically takes place in a hospital or outpatient surgery facility. You will be instructed to take laxatives and stick to a clear liquid diet the day before the screening in order to empty your intestinal tract. For the screening itself, you will be given a mild sedative, and a very small fiber optic camera will be passed into your colon. If no polyps are found, your next colonoscopy can wait about ten years.

If a polyp is found, it can be removed immediately, and then you should talk to your family physician about a schedule for regular colonoscopies.

Colon cancer may not be a pleasant thing to talk about, but it is very important to get the facts about the risks of colon cancer overall and about your personal health.

A colonoscopy may not be your idea of a good 50th birthday present, but it will increase your chances of celebrating many more birthdays to come.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to Martha A. Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, P.O. Box 110, Athens, OH 45701, or via e-mail to readerquestions@familymedicinenews.org. Medical information in this column is provided as an educational service only. It does not replace the judgment of your personal physician, who should be relied on to diagnose and recommend treatment for any medical conditions. Past columns are available online at www.familymedicinenews.org.