National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month: Silent Killer is More Common Than You Think

Colorectal cancer, often referred to as a “silent killer,” can develop and progress quietly within the body, often without any noticeable symptoms. However, despite its stealthy nature, it’s the third most common cancer in the United States. In fact, the lifetime risk for developing colorectal cancer is 1 in 23 for men and 1 in 25 for women.

“There are more than 150,000 patients diagnosed with some form of colorectal cancer in the U.S. every year. When the changes that lead to colon cancer are detected early, the tendency for there to be a positive outcome is greatly improved, approaching 90% of the cases,” said Christian F. Sorensen, a physician at Iredell Family Medicine.

This month is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shed light on this silent disease and emphasize the importance of early detection.

What is colorectal cancer?
Commonly referred to as colon cancer, colorectal cancer is a disease that starts in the colon or rectum, which are parts of your body’s digestive system.

“As the name implies, the definition of colorectal cancer is the formation of abnormal cells and tissues in the lining of the colon or rectum that, if left undetected, can become more aggressive and invade local tissues as well as metastasize to more distant areas in the body,” said Sorensen.

It often occurs in individuals who are over the age of 50, however new cases of this cancer are occurring at an increasing rate among younger adults. Those with a family history of colorectal cancer, and those who have had colorectal polyps or inflammatory bowel disease have an increased risk for the cancer. Other risk factors include being overweight, smoking, and drinking an excessive amount of alcohol. Diets high in red or processed meat also may play a role.

Most colorectal cancers begin as noncancerous abnormal growths, called polyps. According to Sorensen, as these polyps slowly grow, it takes about ten years for them to turn into cancer.

“At that point, they will begin to first invade the lining and muscles of the colon, and then their cells can be seen invading other tissues locally and distant in the body,” said Sorensen.

“It's important to screen for cancer because if colon polyps can be detected in their early phases, before they have made a malignant transformation, they can be removed. Continued surveillance will limit the likelihood of progression to true colon cancer,” he added.

As mentioned previously, colorectal cancer typically has no symptoms until the disease has reached more advanced stages.

“Probably the most common symptom of colorectal cancer is that there are no clear symptoms. Symptoms of more advanced disease can include blood in the stool or dark stools, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, and unplanned weight loss,” said Sorensen.

Early detection is key.
If polyps are found early, they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Additionally, if colorectal cancer is detected in its early stages, treatment is more likely to be successful, resulting in better outcomes. Screening is the best tool for finding polyps or colorectal cancer early. If you are at average risk for developing colorectal cancer, you should begin screening at 45 years old. There are a few options for screening.

According to Sorensen, the gold standard of colon screening is a colonoscopy which, when normal, is repeated every ten years.

“The advantage to this study is direct visualization of polyps and other colonic abnormalities as well as the possibility of removing suspicious lesions during the screening procedure. A colonoscopy requires more significant prep and more time for the patient,” said Sorensen.

“Tests such as Cologuard have been shown to be efficacious in detecting concerning markers suggesting colon polyps and cancers without the need for an intense prep or invasive procedure,” said Sorensen.

If normal, these types of tests should be repeated once every three years. If positive, you would be referred for colonoscopy.

“Tests that simply test for blood in the stool can be useful but do not do as good of a job differentiating between the many potential causes of blood in the stool that are not suggestive of colon cancer,” said Sorensen.

Make sure to speak to your primary care provider about what screening option is best for you. If you have risk factors, such as a family history of colorectal cancer, polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease, your doctor may recommend that you start screening earlier or be screened more often.

Your doctor can also help you decide when to stop screening. For people ages 76 to 85, the decision to screen for colorectal cancer should be an individual one. And people over age 85 don't need screening at all.

As with many diseases, a healthy lifestyle is vital to colorectal cancer prevention. This includes maintaining an ideal weight, physical activity, and a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and lean meats and low in animal fats. Drinking alcohol only in moderation and avoiding smoking are also key factors in reducing your risk of colon cancer.

Learn more
Sorensen practices at Iredell Family Medicine, located at 544 Brawley School Road in Mooresville, and is accepting new patients. If you would like to schedule an appointment with Dr. Christian Sorensen, please call the office at 704-360-5190.