In February 2000, former President Bill Clinton declared March as “National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.” Colorectal cancer is the second major cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. And, it is the fourth most common type of cancer. Approximately 140,000 people are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and over 50,000 Americans die from it every year.

Colorectal cancer refers to the malignant tumor that arises from the inner walls of an individual’s large intestine. This is one of the cancer types that affect both men and women, and it could develop in people of all races and ethnic groups. This type of cancer is found to affect those who are over 50 years of age.

An interesting thing about colorectal cancer is that a majority of patients develop this from colon polyps. Recent studies have found that the removal of colon polyps could prevent colorectal cancer from developing. Approximately 6 out of 10 deaths due to colorectal cancer can be prevented.

Most often, colon polyps and early colorectal cancer show no symptoms. So, some patients may not be aware that they have colon polyps or colorectal cancer at its early stage. This makes frequent screening critical.

Who is at the risk of contracting colorectal cancer?

As with many other types of cancer, some people are at higher risk of contracting colorectal cancer than others. However, there is no single cause for contracting it. The people who are at a high risk of colorectal cancer are:

• Individuals with a familial history
• Individuals with colon polyps
• Individuals with an inflammatory bowel disease, like ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Individual with a family history of other cancer types, like breast, uterine, and ovarian cancers
• Individuals of 50 years of age and above

If you have found that you are at risk of contracting this cancer, you should talk to your doctor about getting screened for the disease as soon as possible. Colorectal cancer is also not uncommon for individuals in their 40’s. Actually, this cancer has even been identified in patients in their 20’s. Moreover, this cancer has been identified in the patients in their twenties.

So, if you are concerned about your risk, get screened.

What are the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer?

As mentioned, this cancer at its early stage may not show any symptoms. If there are symptoms, they would be:

• Blood in the patient’s stool
• Changes in regular bowel habits – diarrhea, constipation, or both
• Frequent cramps
• Narrow stools
• Stomach discomfort – bloating, cramps, or fullness
• Frequent gas pains
• Feeling of bowel not getting empty
• Weight loss
• Frequent tiredness

The above-mentioned symptoms are not unique to colorectal cancer. It may indicate some other medical conditions as well. However, these symptoms should not be ignored. If you are experiencing one or more of these symptoms, it’s better to consult with a doctor and get screened.

What can you do for Colorectal Awareness Month?

National Colorectal Awareness Month provides a good opportunity, especially for those who are in healthcare, to educate others about this cancer. There are ways to raise awareness about the significance of screening, prevention, as well as treatment. Making these efforts as a healthcare provider will give others a gateway into the field by encouraging more people to consider careers in the colon and rectal fields.

All healthcare providers are encouraged to educate their patients about the disease and help them find more information by referring them to various resources.

Getting Involved:

So, who can get involved in the awareness month? Literally, anyone, from communities, healthcare organizations, individuals, and families, can get involved to increase awareness about this cancer and act towards preventing it. In this line, they can motivate other families and friends to be physically active and maintain an appropriate body weight. They should encourage people to stop smoking and to lower alcohol consumption. They can even talk to their families about the significance of getting screened starting at the age of fifty. In a broader picture, people are encouraged to like, comment, and share memes and posts related to colorectal cancer in the social media.

Basically, the idea of celebrating the awareness month is to increase awareness among people and find ways to prevent the disease. You can do this by making use of your own creativity. Every single step taken will decrease the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer, which is the primary objective!