Published: March 09, 2008 10:31 pm            

LEE WARD: Keep an eye on your body 03/11/08

Last month, I interviewed a woman, only 31 years old, who was battling colon cancer.

There was no colon cancer in her family, yet at an unusually young age, she had it.

Because she was aware of her own body and took responsibility for her own health, she was diagnosed and treated and is making great progress toward becoming cancer free.

Being aware of one’s own body and taking responsibility for one’s health are both crucial to staying well. Keeping informed is the basis for both.

This woman also told me March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and urged me to write about it, so I visited the American Cancer Society’s Web site and learned there are five myths about colon cancer.

Myth number one: Colorectal cancer is a man’s disease.

The organization says the disease is as common among woman as men. It estimates about 150,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and more than 55,000 will die from the disease.

Myth number two: Colon cancer cannot be prevented.

Not all, but many cases of colon cancer can be prevented. Colon cancer almost always starts with a polyp. If found early, the polyp can be removed, stopping the cancer before it begins.

Myth number three: African Americans are not at risk for colon cancer.

Unfortunately, the organization finds African American men and women are diagnosed with and die from colon cancer at higher rates than men and women of any other U.S. racial or ethnic group.

Myth number four: Age doesn’t matter when it comes to getting colon cancer.

My friend was just 31 years old when she was diagnosed with colon cancer, but more than 90 percent of colon cancer cases occur in those 50 and older, according to the cancer society. That’s why it is recommended testing for colon cancer begin at 50; those with a family history of the disease may be told to begin testing at a younger age and those with symptoms or concerns should speak to a doctor about testing.

Myth number five: It’s better not to get tested for colon cancer because it’s deadly anyway.

However, colon cancer is often highly treatable. If colon cancer is found early and treated, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent. But, because many people are not getting tested, only 39 percent of cases are diagnosed at this early stage when treatment is so successful.

There is plenty more information from the American Cancer Society’s Web page, cancer.org, and from the Centers for Disease Control, cdc.gov.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.

        

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