4 Common Myths About Colon Cancer

As prevalent as colon cancer is nowadays, it's shocking to see how much misinformation is being spread around. In this post, I'll be disproving 4 of the most common myths about colon cancer.

You would think that...

• You'd only need to get a screening if you're experiencing symptoms.

• You can't get colon cancer before you turn 50.

• Colon cancer is nonpreventable, so there's no point in getting a colonoscopy.

• Getting a colonoscopy would be painful.

Correct? Nope.

Surprisingly, these are all wrong!

Let me help you prevent colorectal cancer in your life and those you love.

Colon cancer is the third most common type of cancer in the US, so it's important to know the facts and clear up misconceptions.

"The great enemy of truth is very often not the lie--deliberate, contrived and dishonest--but the myth--persistent, persuasive and unrealistic." — John F. Kennedy

Let's clear up facts from myth. It is your health we are talking about.

Myth #1: You only need to get a colon cancer screening if you have symptoms

Colorectal cancer is considered a silent disease. More than 50% of people diagnosed with colorectal cancer are asymptomatic. (That means no symptoms.) It can take years of cancer advancing for symptoms to show. At that point, it can end up being more difficult to treat. Therefore, it's important to get screened to catch it early.

Read more about the importance of colon cancer screening here

Myth #2: You can't get colon cancer until you're older

Shockingly, incidence rates for early-onset colorectal cancer have been on the rise.11% of colon cancer diagnoses and 18% of rectal cancer diagnoses occur in individuals under 50 years old. The truth is, you can never be "too young" for colon cancer to affect you. Therefore, it's important to know the symptoms and risk factors.

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Myth #3: Colorectal cancer can't be prevented

Colon cancer first starts as a small non-cancerous growth called a polyp. If detected early through a colonoscopy, your doctor can remove it and prevent it from becoming cancerous. This is why getting routine colon cancer screening by your local gastroenterologist is crucial.

Myth #4: A colonoscopy sounds painful and unpleasant

Getting a colonoscopy is not as bad as it sounds! You will be sedated before the procedure so you won't feel anything. Most patients don't even remember it. Colonoscopies only take around 30 minutes, and you'll be able to resume many normal activities the next day.

After celebrating his 50th birthday for a full year, Will gets serious about his health and heads in for a colonoscopy.

Question: What is worse than the colonoscopy preparation?

Answer: Colorectal cancer!

Keep on encouraging friends, family, and coworkers to have a screening colonoscopy as it does save lives—from a truly preventable form of cancer.

Follow and support the Colorectal Cancer Alliance @colorectalcanceralliance 💙 #never2young #nevertooyoung #TomorrowCantWait + Fight Colorectal Cancer (Fight CRC) @fightcrc‼️ + the Colon Cancer Coalition @gyrig04 #checkyourcolon + the Colon Cancer Foundation @coloncancerfoundation

Here are some takeaways on this from a public health point of view.

Personally

I eat a high fiber, mostly plant-based 🌱 diet, no red meat, drink 4 liters of water a day, exercise, and am focused on keeping nutrition simple. I am sharing what works for me and what I routinely recommend to my patients.

"Balance. Portion control. Keep nutrition simple. Eat Smart. Eat Healthy. 🌱 🌾 🌿"

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✴ Connect with Dr. Dooreck on LinkedIn where he focuses his sharing on Health, Diet, Nutrition, Exercise, Lifestyle, and Balance.

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