Could Colon Cancer Screening Save Your Life?

If you were about to walk through a minefield, would you let fear or embarrassment stop you from accepting a map that revealed the location of the live munitions? Doubtful. Yet, regrettably, many people don't take advantage of an opportunity to avoid a minefield of the body's own making, even though they have the ability to obtain life-saving information about it. Colon cancer is a potentially devastating, often silent disease that medical technology not only can help to identify but also can potentially cure. The catch is that people need to take advantage of the opportunity to catch this killer in the early stages, when it is most treatable.

The reasons many people fail to initiate a dialogue with their doctors about colon health are not completely understood. Some might be embarrassed. Some may be afraid. Still others may be unaware of or confused about their own risk or need for testing.

Which questions are you too afraid or embarrassed to ask? Read on for answers to some of the most difficult and important questions RealAge members have asked about colon health.

Q: My spouse was diagnosed with colon polyps. Does this mean my spouse is going to get colon cancer?

A: No, colon polyps do not mean that cancer is destined to develop in the colon.

Polyps are small, painless tissue growths that can form in the colon for reasons that are not clear. Most polyps are benign and in their present form are not a threat to health.

But some colon polyps can turn cancerous, or malignant, and malignant tumors in the colon are life threatening.

Keep in mind, however, that most polyps do not develop into colon cancer. Furthermore, polyps that have been detected in the colon can be removed, eliminating the possibility that a particular polyp will turn cancerous.

Q: I found blood in my stool. Is this a sign of colon cancer?

A: Possibly, but it's just as likely due to a less serious cause.

One of the main reasons colon cancer may be such a common killer is that, unfortunately, it can have few or no symptoms, especially in the early stages of the disease, when it is most treatable.

Both benign polyps and malignant polyps may cause few or no symptoms. When colon cancer does cause symptoms, these symptoms may take the form of diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool as the tumor begins to interfere with bowel function. Typically, these symptoms would last for more than a few days. A tumor in the colon may also cause people to feel like they have to go, and the sensation is not relieved by a movement. Bleeding or blood in the stool and abdominal pain or cramping may also be signs of colon cancer.

However, all of the previously mentioned symptoms can also be the result of far less dangerous health problems, such as hemorrhoids or irritable bowel syndrome, so having these symptoms does not mean that a person has colon cancer. In fact, these symptoms are more likely to be due to a condition other than colon cancer.

Screening is the only way to know whether colon cancer is a possibility. Make an appointment with your healthcare provider if you have any nagging concerns.