Health Literacy Missouri
It’s the second deadliest cancer for Missourians, yet one of the most preventable. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and a good time for Missourians, especially those 50 or older, to get screened for the disease.
Colorectal cancer is a slow growing disease. If discovered early through screening, there is a 90 percent survival rate. The problem is that not enough people in Missouri or around the nation are getting screened.
“Colorectal cancer is a very serious but preventable disease,” said Matthew Bechtold, M.D., with the University of Missouri’s Digestive Health Center. “With the abundance of screening tests available, there is little reason to avoid a screening regimen. By participating in an adequate screening program, you may beat cancer before it starts.”
This cancer strikes men and women equally and screening is usually recommended starting at age 50. One easy screening method is a blood stool test. In 2006, nearly 21 percent of Missourians over 50, or more than 366,000 residents, said they had taken a blood stool test within the last two years. The test only costs about $20 and can be done at home. It’s an easy way to determine if blood is present in the stool, which could indicate colorectal cancer. However, three-fourths of Missourians still aren’t taking the initiative.
By comparison, a colonoscopy, a procedure that looks for abnormalities inside the colon, can cost $1000 and must be performed at a doctor’s office or hospital. If cancer is present, a doctor can remove it during the colonoscopy. If you’re over 65, the cost is usually covered by Medicare or other insurance.
As a state, Missouri ranks 14th in the nation for colorectal cancer deaths with more than 1,100 per year.
“Colorectal cancer is relatively common in the United States based upon a combination of genetic and environmental factors,” Bechtold said. “Some environment factors that have been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer are quite common in the state of Missouri and include obesity, cigarette smoking, alcohol use, consumption of red meat, and lack of physical exercise.”
Anyone with an immediate family member who had colon cancer before age 60 should begin screening at age 40 or earlier – at least 10 years before the relative was diagnosed. Also, African-Americans have recently been found to have an increased risk of colorectal cancer and are advised to start screening at age 45.
Along with regular screening, key lifestyle changes can also help prevent colorectal cancer. There are several things everyone can control that will lower the risks. Based on the research, Health Literacy Missouri (http://www.healthliteracymissouri.org) recommends:
• Eating 5 or more servings of different vegetables and fruits each day
• Choosing whole grain breads and pastas
• Limiting the amount of red meat in your diet
• Avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol (no more than one drink per day for women and two for men)
• Getting the recommended amounts of physical activity each week
• Staying at a healthy weight as determined by you and your doctor
If you’re over 50, ask your doctor about a blood stool test or check with your local hospital. For more information, visit ACS.org or call 1-800-ACS-2345.
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