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If you are a man or a woman age 50 or older, you are at risk for colon cancer. And if you are a member of certain ethnic groups, your risk may be even greater.
And while colon cancer kills about 57,000 Americans each year, it can actually be prevented or cured with early detection testing. If detected early before it has spread, the five-year survival rate is about 90%, but only 37% of cases are found at this early stage.
“Colon cancer testing can actually prevent the disease from occurring,” said Mary A. Simmonds, MD, FA, CP, national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society. “We could see a huge improvement in colon cancer prevention and survival if all people 50 and older, plus those at increased risk, would talk with their doctors and get tested.”
Crossing Cultural Barriers
The group hit hardest by colon cancer is African Americans. They have the highest incidence and death rates of any ethnic group, but many don’t realize they are at risk at all.
Even though the use of colon screening tests among African Americans has increased – from 4% in 1987 to more than 39% in 2001 – the percentage of people being tested is still low. Like many people, African Americans often don’t go to the doctor because they don’t feel any symptoms. But colon cancer symptoms tend to show up only in the later stages of the disease, when it is less survivable. So it’s important to be tested even if you feel fine.
Another group greatly impacted by the disease is Hispanic/Latino Americans. In 2001, colon cancer became the third leading cause of cancer deaths among this group. And while they have lower incidence and death rates than other racial or ethnic groups in the US, statistics show this population is less likely to follow screening guidelines for the disease.
Economic, language, and cultural barriers all play a role in this trend. Things like medical costs and insurance issues, personal health priorities (worrying more about one’s family’s health than one’s own), not speaking or understanding English, and sometimes even a fear of doctors all contribute to illnesses going undetected during the early, most treatable stages.
Making the Most of Your Checkup
No matter what your background, start by calling your doctor. Visiting your doctor regularly and having an open dialogue about your cancer risk – what tests you need and when – is a great first step to staying healthy. And learning more about the disease before your doctor’s appointment can help you begin that dialogue. You can find more information on colon cancer risks and testing within our website or by calling 1-800-ACS-2345. Information and telephone assistance is available in Spanish and English.
Stop Colon Cancer Before It Starts
Do you know what screening tests to ask your doctor about? Beginning at age 50 for men and women of average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends one of these five testing options for colon cancer:
- Yearly fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years
- Yearly FOBT and flexible sigmoidoscopy every five years, or
(Of these first three options, the third is preferable: FOBT every year and flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.)
- Double contrast barium enema every five years
- Colonoscopy every 10 years
African Americans and people with a family history of the disease are at higher risk and should talk to their doctors about beginning testing earlier. For more information about colon cancer and how you can prevent it or stop it early, contact your American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345.
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