This Highly Treatable Cancer is also the Second Most Deadly. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
SANTA BARBARA — March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, which aims to highlight a deadly but preventable cancer responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, over 154,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with colon and rectal cancer in 2025, making it the fourth most common cancer in the U.S. Though the disease is highly treatable when diagnosed at an early stage, it is the second most deadly cancer in the U.S., which is why, every March, healthcare providers including Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, work to educate people on how to detect and treat it.
“The reason we want to create a sense of urgency about sharing information about colon cancer is because early detection will save lives,” said Dr. Ali Javanbakht, Chief Medical Officer, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics. “The sooner colon cancer is discovered the more treatable it is and the higher the survival rate. Everyone who is 45 or over should have a colonoscopy at least every 10 years and even more frequently, if it is recommended by their primary care physician.”
Signs (or lack thereof) of colorectal cancer
Colorectal cancer begins in either the colon or the rectum. Because early colorectal cancers do not present with symptoms, the only way to discover whether cancer is present is by scheduling regular screenings. Though the risk of developing colorectal cancer is highest between age 65 and 74, about 10% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed before age 50, according to the National Cancer Institute, which is why the age to begin having colonoscopies was recently dropped from 50 to 45.
Once the disease progresses and tumors begin growing within the colon or rectum, symptoms might include a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation, persistent abdominal discomfort, rectal bleeding, weakness, fatigue, anemia, and unexplained weight loss.
Detection of colorectal cancer starts with colonoscopy
The gold standard for detecting colorectal cancer is the colonoscopy, an outpatient procedure involving the use of a long, flexible tube with a camera that allows a doctor to visualize the entire rectum and colon. During the procedure, a doctor can remove suspicious polyps and take biopsies to diagnose early-stage cancers. You are required to follow a multi-day bowel preparation and undergo sedation for the duration of the procedure, and you’ll need a friend or family member to drive you home.
Despite the effort required to undergo a colonoscopy, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages considering the potential ability to detect cancer at stage 0 to stage 1 when the 5-year survival rate is 90 to 92%.The National Cancer Institute reports that once colorectal cancer has advanced to stage 2 or 3, the 5-year survival rate falls to 74%. Stage 4, when the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, carries with it a sobering 16% survival rate.
If you have a low risk of cancer, there are additional methods of screening you can opt for based on your doctors’ recommendations. These methods might include sigmoidoscopy, virtual colonoscopy, or stool-based tests. However, only your primary care physician can help you decide which detection method is right for you.
Personal history screening questions
In addition to cancer detection tests, you will be asked screening questions to determine your level of risk for developing cancer. Having a personal history of chronic ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, drinking three or more alcoholic drinks per day, smoking cigarettes, being obese, being Black, and having a first-degree relative with a history of colon or rectal cancer raises your risk of developing future cancer.
Colorectal cancer treatment
Treating colorectal cancer depends on the stage at which it’s detected. In the earliest stages, simple removal of polyps may be all the care that is needed. In later stages, additional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation may be required.
Overdue for your next colonoscopy? Call or visit Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics today to schedule a consultation with a doctor. The neighborhood clinics accept most new patients regardless of their insurance status.
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) has a VISION and that is Healthy People: Healthy Communities. We strive in our MISSION to provide high-quality, comprehensive, affordable healthcare to all people, regardless of their ability to pay, in an environment that fosters respect, compassion and dignity. For more information visit www.sbclinics.org