Often, colon cancer begins as a small cluster of cells known as “colon polyps.” While benign at first, some of these polyps may become cancerous over time. Doctors routinely perform a colonoscopy to check for polyps once a patient is over 50 and they may advocate the removal of polyps, if found. While there is no guaranteed way to prevent polyps from turning cancerous, doctors say that early colonoscopy screening and a healthy lifestyle are the best ways to beat this deadly cancer.

There are many important risk factors for cancer of the colon that makes someone a good candidate for colon cancer screening. Age is one factor, as about 90% of people diagnosed with this cancer are over 50. People are also more at-risk if they have ever had colorectal cancer, polyps, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, acromegaly (a growth hormone disorder) or radiation therapy as part of another cancer treatment. Some studies have shown that a greater risk exists for people who eat diets low in fiber and high in fat/calories, or diets high in red meat/processed meats. Obese individuals and smokers have an increased chance of developing and dying from this type of cancer too. As with most health conditions, genetics also play a role in many cases.

Approximately 5% of all colon cancer is caused by a genetic syndrome passed through the familial line. These syndromes include FAP (familial adenomatous polyposis) and Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer). About 95% of the people diagnosed with either syndrome will develop colon polyps that lead to cancer. The good news is that both of these syndromes are detectable through genetic testing. The idea that someone without these syndromes will develop the cancer because an aunt, grandmother, sibling or parent has is still debated. Some say the family may have all been exposed to the same environmental conditions or unhealthy lifestyle.

Surgery is the primary treatment of advanced colon cancer, where the affected portion of the colon is removed. Sometimes the healthy portions of the colon can simply be reconnected, while other times a bag must be inserted to collect waste. In the early stages, cancerous polyps can be removed with the colonoscope during screening or through non-invasive laparoscopic surgery. Metastatic colon cancer usually requires chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy to remove any leftover cancer that has migrated through the body. Additionally, an exciting new field called “targeted drug therapy” uses the drugs bevacizumab (Avastin), cetuximab (Erbitux) and panitumumab (Vectibix) to prevent tumors from developing new blood vessels (thereby cutting off the nutrient/oxygen flow to cancerous cells) and to inhibit the chemical signal that causes these harmful cells to reproduce.

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