To prevent colon cancer, get your butt to the doctor

Colorectal cancer - cancer from the colon or rectum - may be the second leading reason for cancer-related deaths within the U . s . States, based on the Centers for Illnesses Control and Prevention.

However it's probably the most curable cancer there's, even just in its later stages.

Caramba Today' chief medical and health correspondent Dr. Richard Besser held a tweet chat Monday to boost awareness regarding how to prevent and treat colon and rectal cancer. His special guest was ABC talk show host Katie Couric, whose husband, Jay Monahan, died from the disease in 1998.

CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden and chief medical and scientific officer from the American Cancer Society Dr. Otis Brawley tweeted their ideas, together with experts in the National Institutes of Health the Cancer Of The Colon Alliance Mayo Clinic New You are able to College Langone Clinic and also the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.

Click the link to see a transcript from the chat.

Listed here are four things our experts say you must understand about keeping the colon healthy and happy:

1. Get Tested

Most colon cancer begin as polyps, protuberances growing around the lining from the colon wall that may become cancer. Regular screening after age 50 is important for discovering and getting rid of these polyps before they become cancerous.

"Roughly six of 10 deaths from cancer of the colon might be avoided if everybody age 50+ got tested routinely," Frieden tweeted.

In case your test returns clean, you will not need a different one for ten years. However, in case your test shows irregularities, you ought to be tested more frequently.

"Certain kinds of genealogy dictate screening in a more youthful age," Brawley tweeted.

"We believe it requires ten years for any polyp to create and turn cancer. When we find polyps, we glance every 3 to 5 years," tweeted Dr. John Kisiel, a gerontologist in the Mayo Clinic.

And colonoscopy is not the only real screening test, based on Besser. You are able to choose a sigmoidoscopy, which only examines the foot of the colon, or perhaps a test for bloodstream hidden within the stool rather.

2. Colonoscopies Aren't That Bad

Throughout a colonoscopy, a physician lightly card inserts a lengthy, flexible tube having a light and camera around the finish to your rectum to scope out indications of cancer. The exam is no large deal. You are under anesthetic and will not feel a factor.

Prep is yet another matter. Prior to the test you have to cleanse your colon by consuming copious levels of a vile-tasting liquid, then retiring towards the bathroom for that better a part of each day.

Many people discover the ordeal daunting, but our chatters stated to conquer it. And when buddies or family members resist the concept, Couric stated to inform them to get it done for anyone who love and rely on them.

"Also, in case your partner does not would like to get tested, join them and suggest his and hers colonoscopies!" she tweeted.

Katie Couric Tweeted, "Get The Butt towards the Physician!" Credit: Katie Couric.

3. Don't Die of Embarrassment

"There might be bloodstream in stool, a general change in bowel habits, diarrhea or a general change in weight," experts in the NIH noted.

Experts from Dana Farber added, "Per month or even more thinning from the stools, pushing, alternation in stool shape are signs and symptoms of bowel irregularity.Inch

As a number of our tweeters noted, people frequently ignore these signs and symptoms or are extremely embarrassed to speak to the physician about the subject. Once again, our chatters stated to conquer it.

"Get the butt towards the physician," Couric tweeted - this comment was retweeted greater than a dozen occasions.

As Besser stated, however, apart from polyps there might be not one other signs and symptoms in early stages from the disease. This is exactly why it is so vital that you have regular check-ups and obtain tested on the schedule set by both you and your physician.

4. Be aware of Risks

Age is a vital risk factor. Colon and rectal cancer most frequently strike people older than 50, however the disease can strike at all ages. Although anybody could possibly get colorectal cancer, it's most harmful for unprivileged, because they are less inclined to get examined or seek treatment, professionals in the Cancer Of The Colon Alliance stated. If a person inside your family members have had cancer of the colon, this increases your risk too.

As several tweeters noted, Lynch syndrome - a hereditary condition - puts someone at elevated chance of cancer of the colon along with other cancer. Doctors estimate that around three from every 100 colon cancer originate from Lynch syndrome, and also the disease frequently happens in an earlier age. Lynch syndrome, that is confirmed with a simple bloodstream test, might be a potential diagnosis when you will find multiple installments of colorectal cancer on a single side from the family.

The primary factor all of our tweeters stressed was that living a colon-healthy way of life goes a lengthy way toward protection against colorectal cancer. Our experts stated that the diet full of red-colored meat and occasional in fiber, smoking, drinking, deficiencies in exercise and being obese or overweight increase the risk, although becoming an working out vegetarian does not completely eliminate your odds of obtaining the disease.

Our Next Health Tweet Chat is Tuesday, March 12, at 1 p.m. ET. I will be talking about childhood weight problems. Joining was easy. Get more information at the particulars.