| Colon cancer is currently the second most | | | | stage are able to undergo a successful |
| common cancer in the United States, and | | | | surgical removal of the cancer before it |
| causes over 50,000 deaths in the country each | | | | spreads to other parts. It is important to |
| year; and for the record, which is about as | | | | note that in the beginning stages, the signs |
| many American soldiers that died in the | | | | are rarely noticeable, so it is only those |
| entire Vietnam conflict. This is an | | | | who regularly go for a colonoscopy or other |
| especially tragic and frustrating fact | | | | colon exam that will be able to catch the |
| because the majority of the deaths caused by | | | | disease early. |
| colon cancer could have been prevented or | | | | |
| reduced. | | | | This cancer also has a high tendency to run |
| | | | in families. There is a genetic trait for |
| The symptoms include pain in the abdomen, | | | | developing 'polyps' that can be passed down |
| diarrhea, blood in the feces, and sometimes | | | | from one generation to the next, and this |
| constipation or sometimes even blocked bowel | | | | trait vastly increases your odds of getting |
| movements. It can range from very mild, and | | | | the disease. If you parents, grandparents, |
| to extremely severe. There are cases of | | | | or siblings have even been diagnosed with |
| colon cancer that are almost without symptoms | | | | this disease, there is a good chance you may |
| until the latest stages. | | | | have this polyp gene, and it is especially |
| | | | important that you get checked regularly once |
| It is not a good idea to wait until you have | | | | you reach the age of 40. |
| noticeable sign before learning about the | | | | |
| disease and taking some action. Once you've | | | | Clearly, it is extremely important to get a |
| developed such symptoms, the disease has | | | | regular colon exam, irregardless of whether |
| probably entered into the middle or late | | | | the disease runs in your family or not. |
| stages, and there is a high chance that it | | | | Also, contrary to some myths, women are as |
| has spread to other areas of your body. Once | | | | likely to develop colon cancer as compare to |
| it has spread to other parts of your body, | | | | men. People of African decent seem to be |
| your likelihood of survival lowers | | | | especially prone to such disease, and should |
| dramatically. | | | | consider getting their first exam starting |
| | | | even earlier than age 40. No one likes the |
| If you catch colon cancer in the earlier | | | | thought of a colon exam, as they are |
| stages, there is an extremely high chance | | | | certainly unpleasant, but late stage colon |
| that you will recover and survive well. Over | | | | cancer are definitely worse to have. |
| 90% of people who are diagnosed with an early | | | | |