The number of diagnosed cases of colon cancer is increasing. This year alone, about 152,000 Americans are going to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, according to staff with the Henry Ford Health Colon Cancer Program.
Doctors say many of those being diagnosed are getting colon cancer at younger ages.
That is why many healthcare providers are focusing on screening, prevention, and education.
March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month.
There is a giant inflatable tunnel in the atrium of East Clinic at Henry Ford Health. To some, it may look like a bounce house, but it is so much more.
The inflatable is a giant-sized model of a colon.
“We put it in here so that we could educate our patients and their families about colon cancer,” said Dr. Surya Nalamati, a Colorectal Staff Surgeon at Henry Ford Health.
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers, after lung and breast cancer. It’s common after lung and prostate cancer in men.
According to Dr. Nalamati, colon cancer is an abnormal growth in the colon’s Lining. Most of the time, it starts as a small polyp, which is not cancerous. If ignored, the polyps can slowly grow into something more serious.
“The polyps slowly evolve into cancerous polyps,” said Nalamati.
Untreated symptoms could include bleeding, abdominal pain, and changing bowel habits. Doctors recommend screenings at age 45 or earlier if there’s a family history of cancer. Those screenings could include a colonoscopy or stool test, among other procedures.
Nalamati said prevention is possible.
“If there is one good thing that you could do to yourself, to lead a good healthy life, I would say have yourself screened for colon cancer,” Nalamati said. “This is the second commonest cause for cancer right now in the United States.”
For more information about screening, prevention, and the Henry Ford Health Colon Cancer Program, visit Colon Cancer | Henry Ford Health - Detroit, MI.