1.

I'm a 45 year-old man with no family history of colorectal

cancer or polyps. Should I start getting tested for colon cancer?
What are the different types of tests for this cancer??
Because you don't have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, you are considered at
average risk for colorectal cancer. Men with average risk should begin prevention examinations
at age 50. The recommended screening guidelines to detect early stage lesions and polyps for
men at average risk include the following:

● Fecal occult blood test This test examines the stool for blood not easily noticed by the
naked eye. For men at average risk of colorectal cancer, this test should be performed
every year starting at age 50.
● Flexible sigmoidoscopy Flexible sigmoidoscopy is a routine outpatient procedure in
which a physician uses a sigmoidoscope (a long, flexible instrument about 1/2 inch in
diameter) to view the lining of the rectum and the lower third of the colon (called the
sigmoid and descending colon). This test is usually done every 5 years and can be used
in combination with the yearly fecal occult blood test.
● Air contrast barium enema Sometimes a doctor will use a test called air contrast
barium enema. This test is an X-ray examination of the entire colon and rectum in which
barium and air are introduced gradually into the colon by a rectal tube to improve
visualization. Doctors typically recommend this test (sometimes in combination with
flexible sigmoidoscopy) every five years, starting at age 50.
● Colonoscopy This is an outpatient procedure in which the rectum and the inside of the
entire colon are examined. During a colonoscopy, a doctor uses a long, flexible
instrument about 1/2 inch in diameter to view the lining of the colon. This test is
recommended every 10 years, starting at age 50.

2. I found a little bit of blood in my stool. Could I have colorectal

cancer?
The earliest sign of colorectal cancer may be bleeding. But, if you find blood in your stool, don't
panic. A number of different illnesses can cause bleeding, not just colon cancer. If you find
blood in your stool, see your doctor so that a correct diagnosis can be made and proper
treatment received.
Other symptoms to look out for if you suspect colon cancer include:
● Change in bowel habits (constipation or diarrhea)
● Unusual stomach or gas pains
● Very narrow stool
● A feeling that the bowel has not emptied completely after passing stool
● Unexplained weight loss
● Fatigue
 3. I recently had a colonoscopy and my doctor said they
removed an adenoma during the procedure. What is an
adenoma?
An adenoma is a benign, or non-cancerous polyp or growth in the lining of the large intestine.
Adenomas are considered to be precursors of colon and rectal cancer.
All cancers of the colon and rectum begin as an adenoma, but few adenomas (only 1 or 2 out of
100) ever become malignant (cancerous). This process takes several years. When polyps are
discovered during an examination of the colon (such as the colonoscopy), doctors sometimes
find it hard to tell which are pre-cancerous and which are not. Even among adenomas it is
impossible to tell which ones will become malignant. For this reason, all polyps in the colon and
rectum are removed.

4. Should I change my diet to reduce my risk of getting colon

cancer?
There has been substantial debate questioning whether diet affects a person's risk of colon
cancer. It is believed that fiber is important to reduce colon cancer risk; although, there have
been studies showing that a high fiber diet really doesn't make a difference. However, diets rich
in fat and cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of colon cancer.
But, most scientists agree that people should continue to add fiber to their diets, as fiber-rich
foods are an important source of nutrients and help prevent many other serious conditions, like
heart disease. Research also shows that a high-fiber diet may help lower blood pressure,
improve blood sugar, combat overeating, and help prevent other gastrointestinal conditions like
diverticulosis (outpouchings of the lining of the intestine that are prone to bleeding and
infection), constipation, and maybe even stomach and esophageal cancers.
Keep in mind that the best way to prevent colon cancer is to keep active, eat a balanced diet,
maintain your ideal body weight, and schedule polyp screenings regularly after age 50, or earlier
if you have a family history of colon cancer.

A new blood test has potential for detecting -- and even preventing -- colon cancer "CD24 was
[dramatically] elevated in colon cancer and adenoma patients
The researchers found that the test accurately detected colorectal cancer in 92% of cases; only
8% of colon cancers were missed. It gave false-positive results to 8% of people who didn't have
the cancer.
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Colorectal cancer rates are rising in people younger than 50, American Cancer Society
researchers report.
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if most of the people with polyps were in their late 40s, screening at age 50 would catch them
before the polyps became cancers.
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Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United
States
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We suggest that in young people presenting with rectal bleeding or other common signs of
rectal cancer, endoscopic evaluation should be considered in order to rule out a malignancy,
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