A colonoscopy is often misunderstood and brings up unpleasant thoughts but the test is both easy and reliable. Colon cancer usually doesn’t cause symptoms until after it has begun to spread. Colonoscopy or carefully getting your colon checked out for polyps (little growths) in an outpatient clinic can save your life. With regular, recommended screening, colorectal cancer, cancer of the colon or rectum can be totally prevented by removing polyps before they become cancerous.
Watch out for the risk factors described below, do they represent you or someone you love?
• Men and women age 50 and older.
• People who use tobacco.
• Women and men who are obese or sedentary.
• Persons with a history of inflammatory bowel disease, such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease.
See your doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms:
• Pain in the belly.
• Blood in your stool or very dark stools.
• A change in your bowel habits, such as more frequent stools or a feeling that your bowels are not emptying when you go to the bathroom.
• Eating high-fiber foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans and whole grains.
• Consuming calcium-rich foods like low-fat or fat-free milk or yogurt.
• Limiting red meat consumption and avoiding processed meats.
• Never smoking or using snuff.
• Drinking alcohol in moderation (limiting consumption to 1 drink/day for women and 2 drinks/day for men).
Be smart and beat colorectal cancer before it ever has a chance to beat you! Reduce your risk by staying physically active with regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight.
"Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live." Jim Rohn