Nearly 107,000 colon and 41,000 rectal cancer cases are diagnosed each year. According to the American Cancer Society, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in both men and women. Colorectal cancer accounts for about 10 percent of cancer deaths. Take this true/false quiz with eight questions to see how much you know about colorectal cancer. After each question, you will find out if your answer is correct or incorrect, and information about health risks and healthy choices will be provided.

The colon and the rectum are part of the large intestine, which is part of the digestive system.

The colon, or large intestine, is approximately six feet long. The rectum and anal canal make up the last six inches. Because colon and rectal cancers have many features in common, they are often referred to together as colorectal cancer. When colorectal cancer occurs, cells in the colon or rectum become abnormal and divide without normal control or order, thus forming a tumor.

Women are at less risk for colorectal cancer than men.

One of the primary risk factors for colorectal cancer is age, and men and women are equally at risk. More than 90 percent of colorectal cancers are found in persons over the age of 50. Additional risk factors are personal or family history of colorectal cancer, polyps, or inflammatory bowel disease.

Smoking and alcohol consumption will not put me at risk for colorectal cancer.

Actually, smoking and alcohol consumption are risk factors for colorectal cancer. And, physical inactivity, a diet high in fat and/or red meat, inadequate intake of fruits and vegetables, and obesity put an individual more at risk for colorectal cancer. In addition, Jews of Eastern European descent (Ashkenazi Jews) are thought to have a higher rate of colorectal cancer.

Symptoms for colorectal cancer may include cramping or stomach pain.

In the earliest stages, colorectal cancer usually causes no symptoms. But, when symptoms do occur, they may include cramping in the lower abdomen or stomach pain. In addition, symptoms may include:

• a change in bowel habits such as diarrhea or constipation
• a thin, narrow stool that lasts longer than a few days
• rectal bleeding or blood in the stool
• decreased appetite
• vomiting
• weakness and fatigue
• jaundice (yellow coloring) of the skin or eye
  

Screening for colorectal cancer is only useful for finding cancer once you have it.

Actually, just the opposite is true. Screening is used for finding problems before they cause symptoms. Screening tests, such as colonoscopy, can be used to help prevent colorectal cancer by finding and removing polyps that might eventually become cancerous. However, experts say that when a screening test does find colorectal cancer, and it is at an early stage, the treatment that follows is likely to be more effective.

For the general population, experts say colorectal cancer screening should begin at age 50.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recommends that people begin screening at age 50, unless there is a strong family history of colorectal cancer or polyps. Persons with the following risk factors should talk with their physician about screening at an earlier age:

• strong family history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps in a first-degree relative, in a parent or sibling before the age of 60, or in two first-degree relatives of any age
  
  
• family with hereditary colorectal cancer syndromes such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP, about 1,000 cases yearly), and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer (HNPCC, about two to seven percent of colorectal cancer cases)
  
  
• personal history of colorectal cancer or adenomatous polyps
  
  
• personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel disease
  

For persons at an average risk for colorectal cancer, screening requires a test every year after the age of 50.

For individuals who are at average risk, the American Cancer Society recommends one of the following examination schedules below:

• fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) – yearly
• flexible sigmoidoscopy (FSIG) – every five years
• annual FOBT or FIT and FSIG every five years

Of these first three options, the combination of FOBT or FIT every year plus FSIG every five years is preferable.

• double-contrast barium enema (DCBE) – every five years
  or
• colonoscopy – every 10 years

An additional test that your physician may perform is the digital rectal exam (DRE).

I can take steps to prevent colorectal cancer.

You can reduce your risk for colorectal cancer by having regular screenings. In addition, the following lifestyle choices may lower your risk for colorectal cancer:

• eat fruits and vegetables
  
  
• limit fat, including saturated fat
  
  
• follow recommended intake of calcium and the B vitamin,
  folic acid
  
  
• limit alcohol consumption
  
  
• do not smoke
  
  
• stay physically active
  

You answered out of 8 questions correctly.

• Remember that colorectal cancer risk can be reduced with regular screenings. Talk to your physician about when you should begin screening and what tests should be considered at that time.
  
  
• Also important to help reduce colorectal cancer risk is to incorporate healthy habits into your lifestyle. Be sure to design a healthy eating plan low in saturated fats and plentiful in fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a healthy weight may reduce your risk for colorectal cancer. Staying active by exercising at least 30 minutes each day helps prevent colorectal cancer. Be sure to talk to your physician before starting an exercise program.