Colon Cancer Can Take the Life of Someone You Know

Colon cancer or colorectal cancer is the third most diagnosed cancer in the United States and was responsible for more than 145,000 people being diagnosed in 2004. Colon cancer is also the second on the list of cancer-related deaths in the United States, as reported by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

Saturday, Tony Snow, who is the former Fox news host for Sunday, White House Press Secretary and also recently had been a contributor to CNN, has died. Tony Snow died after fighting colon cancer for three years, as reported by TVNewser. Cancer isn't prejudice and anyone can get it all though there are many that are at a much higher risk.

My grandfather beat the odds of colon cancer in 2003 after fighting it for a couple of years. Colon cancer can turn your life upside down. My grandfather had to go through many test because of his colon cancer and was monitored frequently.

Some of the most common symptoms of colon cancer are; blood in or on the stool, changes in bowel habits, stool that are more narrower than usual, stomach discomfort, frequent gas pains or indigestion, weight loss that can't be explained, and chronic fatigue. Most of the symptoms for colon cancer could also be diagnosed as something else since the symptoms are common in a lot of different medical problems or the symptoms that a person feels could be the result of something else.

It is recommended that all men and women who are 50 and higher seek to have a regular screening. It has been estimated that more than 90% of colon cancer patients are at the age of 50 or higher. Screenings do not mean that you will not get colon cancer but they are recommended so that if you do get it then it will be caught early and the chances of survival increases. Physical activity and eating healthy can help to ward off colon cancer.

The exact cause of colon cancer has not been determined but a person's chances of getting colon cancer are increased when there has been a family history of it, if the person has had a known history of ulcerative colitis or Chrohn's disease, or genetic syndromes such as familial adenomatous poyposis and hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer.

There are many doctors who screen their patients for colon cancer in hopes that they can catch it before it proceeds to get worst. Doctors have also begun to teach their patients about the risk of different cancers such as colon cancer and about the preventive and diagnosis measures.

When colon cancer rears it's ugly head just remember that modern medicine is becoming better and more people are surviving than what there were ten years ago. Taking preventive measures and getting a regular check-up should be part of your daily living routine.