Colon Cancer Awareness open house set today
by JILL SCHMELZER Reporter
In 2007, approximately 150,000 men and women will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer and about 55,000 of them will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society, ACS.

"It doesn't have to be that way," said registered nurse, Pat Graham. "Colon cancer is preventable."

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Endoscopy Center of Western New York will hold an open house from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 at 60 Maple Road, Suite 2 in Williamsville.

The disease is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but it is preventable, treatable and often curable if detected early.

Men and women should begin testing for the cancer at age 50 with a routine colonoscopy. Some people may need to be tested at a younger age if they have had polyps in the past, the disease runs in their family, or if they have inflammatory bowel disease, colitis, chrones disease or ovarian or endimetrial cancer, Graham said, who works for the Endoscopy Center of WNY.

Most colon cancers start with polyps, according to ACS. They are usually benign, but if they grow unnoticed and not removed, they may become cancerous and life-threatening.

Colonoscopies, which are used to detect such polyps, require day before preparation, but the test is well tolerated by people, Graham said.

"It's two days of inconvenience," she said. "And that's it for the next five to 10 years, depending on when (the patient) needs to be tested again."

The most common symptom of colorectal cancer is no symptom, according to ACS.

Statistics showed symptoms that occur later in the disease stage are rectal bleeding, change in bowel habits, narrower than normal stools, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, unexplained anemia, abdominal discomfort, gas, bloating, fullness and cramps.

"Many people are embarrassed to come for the colonoscopy," Graham said.

The purpose of the open house will be to ease the minds of those due to be tested, the nurse said. Physicians and registered nurses will be available to answer questions about colonoscopy and the importance of colon cancer screening. Survivors of the disease will also be on hand to share personal stories.

For more information, call 332-1000. Refreshments will also be served.

e-mail: JSchmelzer@beenews.com