{"id":9442,"date":"2025-03-01T13:55:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-01T18:55:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/coloncafacts\/"},"modified":"2025-03-02T00:23:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T05:23:01","slug":"coloncafacts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dpc\/coloncafacts\/","title":{"rendered":"dpc\/coloncafacts ~  Colon Cancer Facts  &#8211; Delaware Health and Social Services &#8211; State of Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-swiftype-index=\"true\">\n\n\n\n  <br>\n\n  \n\n\n\n  \n\n  <div class=\"container\" id=\"main_header\">\n\n    \n\n\n\n <!-- BEGIN readspeaker div -->\n\n    <div class=\"rs_skip rsbtn rs_preserve\" id=\"readspeaker_button1\">\n\n      <a accesskey=\"L\" class=\"rsbtn_play\" href=\"https:\/\/app-na.readspeaker.com\/cgi-bin\/rsent?customerid=7262&#038;lang=en_us&#038;readid=main_content&#038;url=https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/dpc\/coloncafacts.html\" title=\"Listen to this page using ReadSpeaker\">\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_left rsimg rspart\"><span class=\"rsbtn_text\"><span>Listen<\/span><\/span><\/span>\n\n        <span class=\"rsbtn_right rsimg rsplay rspart\"><\/span>\n\n      <\/a>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- END readspeaker div -->\n\n\n\n\n\n    \n\n    <header class=\"pull-left\">\n\n      <h1><!--[type=EDIT name=\"Page Title\"]-->Colon Cancer Facts<!--[END]--><\/h1>\n\n    <\/header>\n\n    \n\n  <\/div><br>\n\n \n\n  <div class=\"container\">\n\n    <div class=\"row\">\n\n      <div class=\"col-md-3\" id=\"leftCol\">\n\n        <div class=\"panel-group\" id=\"accordion\">\n\n          <div class=\"panel sectionmenu_panel\">\n\n            <div class=\"panel-heading\">\n\n              <p class=\"panel-title\"><a class=\"agency_nav\" data-parent=\"#accordion\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#collapseOne\"><strong><i class=\"fa fa-align-justify fa-fw\"><\/i> Public Health Menu<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n\n\n            <div class=\"panel-collapse collapse in\" id=\"collapseOne\">\n\n              <div class=\"panel-body\" id=\"clf_nav\">\n\n                  <ul class=\"nav nav-stacked nav-pills-clf\" id=\"agency_sidebar\">\n    <li><a href=\"\/dph\/\"><h2>Home <i class=\"fa fa-home fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a><\/li>\n    <li class=\"toplevel\"><a data-parent=\"#agency_sidebar\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" href=\"#HomeMenu\"><h2>About <i class=\"fa fa-caret-right fa-fw\"><\/i><\/h2><\/a>\n      <ul class=\"panel-collapse collapse\" id=\"HomeMenu\">\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/about.html\">About DPH<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"\/dph\/sections.html\">Sections &#038; 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It is also called &#8220;colorectal&#8221;\n\n\n  cancer. The colon is a muscular tube about five feet long that is responsible for getting water and nutrients from food. Cancer happens\n\n\n  when the cells in your body grow too fast or too much, creating a tumor which spreads to other tissues in the area. Most colon cancers\n\n\n  develop from polyps, which are lumps of tissue in the bowel that could become cancer if not removed.\n\n\n<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Image: photo of a poster urging adults over 50 to get testedfor colon cancer.\" class=\"pull-right img-thumbnail img-responsive\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/dph\/img\/get_tested_brochure_sm.jpg\">\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Why is it so serious?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Colon cancer is the third leading cause of cancer deaths in Delaware.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Colon cancer kills about 170 Delawareans every year.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Rates of death due to colon cancer in Delaware are 36% higher among African Americans than among other Delawareans.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Is it curable?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Colon cancer can be stopped! With screening tests, doctors can detect and even remove polyps and early cancers \u2014 that&#8217;s why it\n\n\n  is so important to get tested.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Is it preventable?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  A Harvard Center for Cancer Prevention report estimated that close to half of all colon cancers in the United States could be prevented\n\n\n  by healthy lifestyle habits and regular screenings. What can you do to help prevent colorectal cancer?\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Don&#8217;t smoke.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Maintain a healthy weight.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Eat a healthy diet, low in animal or saturated fats, and high in fruits, vegetables (especially green vegetables), and fiber.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Get regular, moderate physical activity \u2014 like walking \u2014 at least five days a week.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Know your family history.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>If you&#8217;re 50 or older, or have a family history or symptoms of colorectal problems, get regular screening as recommended by your\n\n\n  doctor or health care provider.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Most colon cancers begin as polyps, which are pre-cancerous lumps growing on the lining of colon wall. Regular screening can detect and\n\n\n  remove these polyps before they become cancerous.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Who gets colon cancer?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Colon cancer affects men and women of all ages and races, but people 50 years old or older are more likely to get colon cancer.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  What are the risk factors?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Age<\/strong> \u2014 Most cases are in people age 50 and older; but you can get colon cancer at any age.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Racial-ethnic background<\/strong> \u2014 Although colon cancer affects everyone, minorities are more likely to die from colon\n\n\n    cancer, because they are less likely to be\u00a0tested and receive early treatment.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Family history<\/strong> \u2014 If members of your family have had colon cancer, there&#8217;s a greater chance that you may get\n\n\n    it.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Poor diet and physical inactivity<\/strong> \u2014 If your diet is high in fat, it can increase your risk for colon cancer.\n\n\n    Also people who are not active have a higher risk.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>\n\n\n    <strong>Smoking and alcohol<\/strong> \u2014 Studies show that smokers are 30% to 40% more likely than nonsmokers to die of colon\n\n\n    cancer.\u00a0 Those who drink alcohol heavily are also at greater risk.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Are there any symptoms?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  Most of the time, there are no visible symptoms. That&#8217;s another reason why it is so important to get tested. However, there are a few\n\n\n  symptoms that are noticeable:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>Changes in bowel habits\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Frequent diarrhea or constipation\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Vomiting\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Blood in the stool\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Abdominal discomfort (gas, bloating, cramps)\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Weight loss for no known reason\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Constant tiredness\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  What is the test?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  A <strong>colonoscopy<\/strong> is the preferred test to detect colon cancer. A colonoscopy is a way to see if the tissue in your colon is\n\n\n  normal or if there are any signs of cancer. Doctors use a colonoscope \u2014 a long, flexible, narrow tube with a light and a camera at\n\n\n  the end \u2014 to check the lining of your bowel. You will receive anesthesia, so you won&#8217;t feel anything. Biopsies (small tissue\n\n\n  samples) may be taken while you&#8217;re undergoing the test. Polyps (lumps of tissue in your bowel) may be removed during the test. Polyps\n\n\n  can become cancer if they are not removed.\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  How is the test done?\n\n\n<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n  The test is a lot easier than you may think. It is not painful and takes about an hour. Here&#8217;s what to expect:\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n<ul>\n\n\n  <li>You&#8217;ll be asked to fast from and all liquids other than water for 24 hours before the test.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>Before the test, you&#8217;ll receive a sedative to relax you.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>After the test, which lasts about an hour, you&#8217;ll rest for another hour.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>You will need someone to drive you home.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>You&#8217;ll be given instructions about eating \u2014 keep your diet light for the rest of that day.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n  <li>If you take medications, you&#8217;ll be told when you can begin taking them again.\n\n\n  <\/li>\n\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2>\n\n\n  Don&#8217;t wait to get tested!\n\n\n<\/h2>  <!--[END]-->\n\n  \n\n      <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n  <\/div><!-- \/container -->\n\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Listen Colon Cancer Facts Public Health Menu Home About About DPH Sections &#038; Programs Office Locations Contact Info Calendar Services A-Z Services Air &#038; Water Quality Birth, Death, &#038; Marriage Records Clinics Health Data &#038; Statistics Emergency Preparedness Health &#038; Wellness Healthy Homes Healthy Workplaces Laboratory Restaurant Inspections Screening and Testing WIC Additional Services Information [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"parent":9401,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-9442","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9442"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10681,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9442\/revisions\/10681"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/9401"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dhss.delaware.gov\/dph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}