Test Your Colon Cancer IQ

TRUE- It is equally common in men and women. An estimated 148, 810 people will be diagnosed in 2008 and an estimated 49, 960 people will die from the disease.

Men and Women age 50 and older
People who use tobacco, are obese and are sedentary
People with a personal or family history of colorectal cancer or benign (not cancerous) colorectal polys
People with a personal or family history of imflammatory bowel disease
People with a family history of inherited colorectal cancer

True- Screening Saves Lives. Colorectal cancer almost always develops from precancerous polyps in the colon or rectum. Screening test can find polyps, so they can be removed BEFORE they turn into cancer.

True- Colon Cancer is 90% preventable if detected early because it develops from polyps that can be removed before they become cancerous.

Be physcially active and exercise regularly, Maintain a healthy weight, Eat a high fiber diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, and whole grains,Limit red meat and avoid processed meats, Consume calcium-rich foods like low fat or skim milk

Lack of public awareness, uncertaintly among insurance providers and consumers about insurance benefits and limitations of covered benefits,Fear of procedure, negative attitudes towards the screening procedures, inconsistent promotion of screening by medical care providers.

Rectal bleeding or blood in or on the stool, Change in bowel habits or stools that are narrower than usual, Stomach discomfort (bloating, fullness or cramps), Diarrhea, constipation or feeling that the boel does not empty completely, Constant fatigue, vomiting.

If you are at average risk for colorectal cancer, start having regular screening at age 50. If you are at greater risk, you may need to begin regular screenings at an earlier age. The best time to get screened is before any symptoms appear.

March is the official month for colon cancer awareness. Help spread the word of the importance of colon cancer screenings. In November 1999, the Senate passed legislation declaring March 2000 as the first ever National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.

True- New information out this year shows statically 1 in 18 people will develop colon cancer.

Dress in Blue Day is celebrated on the first Friday in March. The purpose of Dress in Blue Day is to promote awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened.

True- Over 150,000 Amercians will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer each year and nearly 50,000 will die from the disease.

Dress in Blue Day is celebrated on the first Friday in March. The purpose of Dress in Blue Day is to promote awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage people to get screened.

False- Since symptoms of colorectal cancer are often silent, it is important to get screened regularly. About 75 percent of all new cases of colorectal cancer occur in individuals with no known risk factors for the disease, other than being 50 or older.If you have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps or inflammatory bowel disease you may need to be screened before age 50.

False- An equal number of women and men get colorectal cancer. An estimated 75,810 women and 72,800 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2006.African Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at later stages of the disease, and at a younger age.

False- Colorectal cancer is usually curable when detected early. More than 90 percent of patients with localized colorectal cancer confined to the colon or rectum are alive five years after diagnosis.

True- Hispanic Americans are less likely to follow screening recommendations for the disease. Among Hispanics aged 50 and older surveyed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 25 percent of those surveyed underwent a sigmoidoscopy or proctoscopy in the last five years. Fewer than 12 percent reported having a fecal occult blood test in the preceding year. Hispanics have the lowest rates for colorectal cancer screening, along with American Indian/Alaska Natives.

True- As a result, the percentage of minorities who die of colorectal cancer is higher than for Caucasians. Making screening even more important with minorities.

True- Because African-Americans are less likely to have polyps detected in their earliest, most treatable stages than are Caucasians, they are less likely to live five or more years after being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. From 1995 to 2000, the five-year colorectal cancer survival rate was 55 percent for African-Americans-compared with 64 percent for Caucasians.

Healthy eating is good for your overall health,but having a low-calorie, high-fiber diet that includes many fruits and vegetables is important to a healthy colon and rectum. A healthy colon and rectum will rid your body of the leftovers it no longer needs.Your stool is filled with bacteria, so it is important to pass this out of your body. If your colon or rectum aren't working the way they should, you will experience problems such as bloating, gas and pain.

The colon and rectum are part of the large bowel or large intestine, which is an organ that is part of the digestive system (also called the digestive tract). The digestive system is the group of organs that allow us to eat and to use the food we eat to fuel our bodies.