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Mercy and the American Cancer Society are partnering with supermarket Hy-Vee to host a free, “Know Your Colon” event tomorrow, Saturday, March 8. It’s an effort to educate the public about colon health and cancer prevention. KSMU’s Jennifer Davidson spoke with a local specialist about what it means to “Know Your Colon.”
Deaths from colon cancer are on the decline in America – and yet, it’s still the third leading cause of death in the US, according to the American Cancer Society.
First, an anatomy refresher for those of us who didn’t go to medical or nursing school: the colon is the first 4 to 5 feet of the large intestine, and the rectum is the last several inches.
Experts say that many people with colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, wait until the symptoms start—and by that time, it may be too late.
Dr. Davd Cozzi specializes in gastroenterology at Mercy Hospital Springfield.
“For what we call ‘average risk patients’—meaning that they don’t have a family [history] or personal history of colon cancer, or colon polyps–those folks should get their initial colonoscopy, for African Americans at age 45, and for others at age 50,” Cozzi said.
People with colon cancer may or may not see the symptoms at first, Cozzi said.
“Usually, the most common symptom that will bring folks to get a colonoscopy for concerns of colon cancer are rectal bleeding, and sometimes weight loss,” Cozzi said.
But early detection is the key, he said, because polyps can be removed early, and those polyps are what can turn into colon cancer in the future, Cozzi said.
Colon cancer screening often comes with more than just one colonoscopy, he said; if you have polyps found, of if you have a family history of colon cancer, you should have regular interval screenings.
But people younger than 45 can take preventative steps through what they put in their mouths: food.
“It’s really recommended that you have a good, well-balanced diet with a high-fiber diet. And generally, for our recommendations: anywhere from 20 to 35 grams a day of fiber is the recommended amount,” Cozzi said. You can see a food’s level of fiber on its nutritional label.
Cozzi said some patients with colon cancer delayed getting a colonoscopy because they couldn’t afford it; others, he said, were afraid of the procedure.
“The toughest part is typically the bowel-prep, where you have to drink a solution to clean out the colon, so we can actually take a good look and find polyps and remove those,” Cozzi said.
He says he can testify, both professionally and personally—since he’s had the test done himself—that the colonoscopy itself is the easiest part.
“We do sedate folks, so that it is comfortable for them. And most folks, their comment to me is, ‘When are we going to be starting the procedure?’ And I tell them, ‘We’re finished,’” Cozzi said.
The “Know Your Colon” event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 8 at the Hy-Vee store at 1720 W. Battlefield Road.