Colorectal Cancer: Risk Factors and Prevention

By
Mary Desroches
-

6Prevention of Colorectal Cancer

Being a prevalent disease in America, colorectal cancer has a morbidity of 4.3% in men and 4.0% in women. These figures are shocking, so what measures could we take to lower the risk of colorectal cancer?

Colorectal Cancer Screening

A screening test aims to detect the underlying disease when there is no symptom. Early detection allows doctors to remove pre-cancerous polyps before forming a malignant tumor. In general, people should get screened for colorectal cancer from 45 years old and then continue the screening tests routinely. If you choose visual exams like CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy) and flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG), do these tests every five years. Stool-based tests such as the highly sensitive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) and the highly sensitive guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT) should be done annually to prevent colorectal cancer onset. [6]

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