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COLORECTAL CANCER MONTH

What are the symptoms ?

• Blood in the stool

• Changes in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation

• Feeling of constant need to go to the toilet after bowel is emptied regularly

• Pain or discomfort

• Unexpected weight loss

• Extreme tiredness

• Lump in the abdomen

 

Are you at risk ?

• Age: More than %90 of people diagnosed with CRC are over 50 years old

• Medical History: A family history of colorectal cancer, polyps in the rectum or chronic inflammatory bowel disease Diet

• A diet high in red and processed meats and fat

• Other factors: physical inactivity, obesity and smoking

 

Lifestyle factors that may contribute to an increased risk of colorectal cancer include:

• Lack of regular physical activity

• Low fruit and vegetable intake

• A low-fiber and high-fat diet

• Overweight and obesity

• Tobacco use

 

How early detection can help ?

• The preferred CRC prevention tests are:

– Colonoscopy every 10 years, beginning at age 50

– Fecal immunochemical test annually if (colonoscopy is declined)

• Alternative CRC prevention tests:

• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 10 – 5 years

– CT colonography every 5 years

– High-sensitivity Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) annually

– Stool DNA test every 3 years

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