It's March - Do you know if your colon is healthy?

 Probably one of the last things anyone wants to talk about is bowel habits. It's not a subject that comes up in conversation often unless we're talking about new babies or ill-mannered pets. But March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month so that means we're going to drag it out of the (water) closet and give you a few things to think about.

Typically, when a person passes their fiftieth birthday their doctor will begin recommending a yearly colonoscopy to evaluate their colon health. This stems from the fact that most colon cancer diagnoses occur in people over the age of fifty. Since most cases of colo-rectal cancer begin as small, noncancerous (benign) clumps of cells called adenomatous polyps, and since early stages of colon cancer can be symptom-free, it's just a good idea to have someone actually take a look. As with most types of cancer, the earlier this disease is found, the more likely it is that the patient will make a full recovery. Waiting until you actually have symptoms can reduce your odds of beating it.

SYMPTOMS THAT SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED AT ANY AGE:

• A change in your bowel habits, including diarrhea or constipation or a change in the consistency of your stool for more than a couple of weeks
• Rectal bleeding or blood in your stool
• Persistent abdominal discomfort, such as cramps, gas or pain
• A feeling that your bowel doesn't empty completely
• Weakness or fatigue
• Unexplained weight loss

Colo-rectal cancer in younger people is often misdiagnosed because of its tendency to be thought of as an older-person's disease. Since the symptoms listed above can also be signs of other disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, Celiac's disease, iron deficiency, or peritonitis, it's not uncommon for doctors to attempt to treat one of those in younger people before ordering invasive tests. If your doctor is treating you for one of these or another disorder and your symptoms are not improving, don't be afraid to get a 2nd (or 3rd) opinion.

Get the facts about colo-rectal cancer, know your risks and the symptoms to watch for, and find out if your colon is as healthy as you think it is!