Have you been told you should be screened for colorectal cancer but avoided it out of embarrassment or fear? It's a common reaction, but a dangerous one. Because you often don't get symptoms until the cancer has spread, it is extremely important to have a routine screening. Dr. Jeffrey Tanita, a Hardtner Medical Center staff physician, explains that colorectal cancer or “colon cancer" occurs in the large intestine, large bowel or rectum. It is the second leading cancer killer in the U.S..Colon cancer affects equal numbers of men and women. In the absence of additional risk factors, colon cancer is rare under the age of 40, and uncommon in the 40 to 50 age group. Thus, Dr. Tanita says most experts agree that in healthy men and women with out additional risk factors, screening for colon cancer should begin at age 50. Some factors increase the risk of colon cancer:a diet high in animal fat and deficient in fiber, a lack of exercise and possibly tobacco use. A family history of colon cancer also increases the likelihood that an individual will develop cancer. Certain conditions raise the risk of colon cancer dramatically, however, and should prompt more aggressive surveillance for possible cancer. These include a prior history of colon cancer or pre-cancerous polyps, a family history that includes a first-degree relative with colon cancer, a personal history of ulcerative colitis, a personal history of breast, ovarian or uterine cancer, and certain rare inherited diseases, like hereditary polyposis. It is important to remember that the screening tests for colon cancer are designed to look for silent cancers in people without symptoms. The presence of symptoms in a person over 50 (younger if they have risk factors) should prompt a more aggressive search for possible cancer. What are the symptoms? According to Dr. Tanita, some symptoms may include: Blood in or on your stool. Stomach aches, pains or cramps that persist without any apparent cause. A persistent change in bowel habits or patterns. Unexplained weight loss. What are the screening tests? Fecal Occult Blood Test - Checks for hidden blood in your stool Flexible Sigmoidoscopy - Checks for polyps or cancer in the rectum and lower third of the colon Barium Enema - A radiographic or x-ray that checks the outline of the colon for polyps and other abnormalities Colonoscopy - Checks for polyps or cancer in the rectum and entire colon Remember, early colon cancer and late colon cancer are very different diseases. The difference is in finding early cancer at a treatable stage. Dr. Tanita urges anyone experiencing any symptoms and those individuals without symptoms over the age of 50 to talk to their doctor. It is estimated that at least one third of the deaths caused from colon cancer could be avoided with regular screening exams. Content provided by Jeffrey Tanita, M.D. a staff physician for Hardtner Medical Center located in Olla, Louisiana, (318) 495-3131.