Healthy Tahoe: Colorectal cancer screenings can save your life

ByJeffrey J. Baker

Mar 18, 2022 #Apostrophe Health Brian, #Cobb Douglas Public Health Department, #Cpap Health Market, #Cvs Affordable Health Insurance, #Delegation In Public Health, #Envoy Health Denton Autumn Lake, #Fairview Health Services Yelp, #Greenville Rancheria Tribal Health Center, #Health And Safety Conferences 2019, #Health Benefit Exchange Coi, #Health Benefits Feta Olive Oil, #Health Benefits Pawpaw, #Health Canada Processed Food, #Health Insurance Cheaper Single, #Health Net Login 2018, #Health Net Therapist Los Angeles, #Health Problems From Uranium, #Health Professional Licensing Board, #Healthy Recipes For Brain Health, #Hi Health Hearing Aids Reviews, #Horton Valley Behavioral Health, #Hospital Sisters Health System Number, #How Intergrity Investigate Health Care, #Iggy Azalea Mental Health, #Jay Williamson United Health, #Kernersville Health Care Center Jobs, #La Canada Health Care, #Lee Health New Ceo, #Lsd Health Effects Edu, #Mental Health Dissertation Pdf, #Mental Health Retraints, #Mental Health Utilization Racial Groups, #Most Common Crime Health, #New Health Market Job Reviews, #Nys Health Insurance License, #Physician Assistant Health Professional Organizations, #Plant And Health Quotes, #Prestige Women'S Health Care, #Rex Health Care Login, #Richmond Times Dispatch Health Reporters, #Smokeless Tobacco Health Risks Definition, #Soliant Health Houston, #Stress Test S Health, #Sunrise Health Care Moultrie Ga, #Unified Life Insurance Health In, #United Health Care Medcare, #United Health Cincinnati Dentist Rating, #United Hospital Mental Health Inpatient, #Vive Health Coupon Codes, #Wild Mosa Health Regen

Colorectal cancer, malignant cells found in the colon or rectum, is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, preventative screenings for colorectal cancer are at all time lows.

William Shepherd

The American Cancer Society estimates 140,000 colorectal cancer cases and about 50,000 deaths from colorectal cancer occur each year. The number of deaths due to colorectal cancer has decreased from years prior, which can be attributed to increased screening, polyp removal, and improvements in cancer treatment.

The symptoms of colorectal cancer may resemble other conditions such as infections, hemorrhoids, and inflammatory bowel disease, however, it is possible to have colon cancer and not have any symptoms.



Symptoms include a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days, rectal bleeding, dark stools, or blood in the stool, cramping or gnawing stomach pain, decreased appetite, vomiting, unintended weight loss, weakness and fatigue, and a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that is not relieved by doing so.

Any of these symptoms should warrant a visit to your care provider, especially for ages 50 and older or those with a personal or family history of the disease (always consult your health care provider for a diagnosis).



Although the exact cause of colorectal cancer is not known, it may be possible to lower your risk of colorectal cancer with lifestyle modifications. You can lower your risk by eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods while limiting red and processed meats, exercising appropriately, even small amounts on a regular basis, and avoiding excess alcohol consumption.

Perhaps most important to the prevention of colorectal cancer is having screening tests at recommended ages. Screening may find colorectal polyps that can be removed before they have a chance to become cancerous.

Because some colorectal cancers cannot be prevented, finding them early is the best way to improve the chance of successful treatment, and reduce the number of deaths caused by colorectal cancer. Speak with your care provider about colorectal cancer screening.

March is Colorectal Awareness Month. Contact your primary care provider to schedule important health screenings including a colorectal cancer screening. Dr. William Shepard is a surgeon with Barton General Surgery, specializing in minimally invasive surgical procedures such as da Vinci Xi robotic surgery, and laparoscopy. Learn more about Barton General Surgery at BartonHealth.org/GeneralSurgery or by calling 530-543-5691.