Get your rear in gear – What you should know about colon cancer.

For obvious reasons, no one wants to talk about colon cancer. Yet colorectal cancer, which includes colon cancer, is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. Here’s what you should know.

Colon cancer is a malignancy that begins in the colon, or large intestine. The large intestine is a long tube-like organ near the end of the digestive system. After food passes through the stomach and small intestine, the colon is responsible for removing fluid and some nutrients from the food that you eat. The colon then pushes the remaining solid waste into the rectum where it can be expelled from the body.

Colorectal cancer is another commonly used term that includes not only cancers of the colon, but also cancers that form in the rectum. The rectum is the last part of the large intestine, where stool, the body’s waste product, is expelled through the anus.

Most colon cancers begin as benign polyps. These are either flat or knob-like growths on the lining of the large intestine. Occasionally, the growths produce symptoms such as bleeding, constipation or blood in the stool. But often, the cells produce no symptoms at all, so people may not know that they have them. The best way to detect the presence of polyps is with a procedure called a colonoscopy, which is performed in a physician’s office.

While some polyps remain benign or non-cancerous, some may become malignant or cancerous over time. For this reason, when a physician finds one or more polyps during the colonoscopy, they are generally removed during the procedure.

So how do you prevent polyps from forming in the first place? A family history of polyps or of colon cancer may increase your chances of getting them. People who are over the age of 50 also have a higher risk of having polyps form in the colon. But there are also lifestyle factors that play a role in the development of these growths. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of polyps. Smokers, people who consume a high-fat diet, and those who consume alcohol are also at higher risk.

Anyone can get colon cancer. But there are some people who are at higher risk. If you have a family history of colon cancer, physicians generally recommend that you get screened for colon cancer at an earlier age because your risk of getting the disease may be higher. For those who have no family history of the disease, recommended screenings generally begin at age 50 because this is when the risk of getting colon cancer begins to increase.

However, even if you are under the age of 50 and have no family history of colon cancer, if you experience symptoms including abdominal pain, blood in the stool, narrowing stools or a change in bowel habits, you should speak to your health care provider about getting screened. Be sure to provide as much information as possible, including when the pain or discomfort started and the severity and/or frequency of symptoms.

Research has shown that a high-fat diet is a risk factor for colon cancer. Some studies have also suggested that a diet high in fiber and a lifestyle that includes moderate exercise are helpful in preventing the disease. Staying aware of symptoms and getting recommended screenings are key factors in prevention of the disease. After speaking to family members and gathering a complete health history, speak to your primary care provider about ways to improve your diet and lifestyle to prevent colon cancer and about scheduling preventive screenings when necessary.

Get Your Rear in Gear is a coalition of sisters, brothers, mothers, fathers and friends who have been affected by colon cancer and want to do something. Some of them are colon cancer survivors, while others are those who work to honor those lost to this disease. The coalition has formed 5Ks and other events in cities across the country, including Baton Rouge, working together with health care providers, corporations and the media to encourage people to “Get Your Rear in Gear” and talk about colon cancer with their doctor, their loved ones and everyone they know. The Baton Rouge Get Your Rear in Gear 5K was held at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in March. Learn more at getyourrearingear.com.