CINCINNATI, OH (FOX19) -
Friday morning, FOX19 will be dressing in blue to spread awareness for colon cancer.
Colon cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer, yet many people are uncomfortable talking about it.
Studies have found the following risk factors for colon cancer:
Age over 50: colon cancer is more likely to occur
as people get older. More than 90 percent of people with this disease
are diagnosed after age 50. The average age at diagnosis is 72.
Colon polyps: Polyps are growths on the inner wall
of the colon or rectum. They are common in people over age 50. Most
polyps are benign (not cancer), but some polyps (adenomas) can become
cancer. Finding and removing polyps may reduce the risk of colon
cancer.
Family history of colon cancer: Close relatives
(parents, brothers, sisters, or children) of a person with a history of
colon cancer are somewhat more likely to develop this disease
themselves, especially if the relative had the cancer at a young age.
If many close relatives have a history of colon cancer, the risk is
even greater.
Join FOX19 by dressing blue on Friday, March 1, 2013.
Learn more on the Colon Cancer Alliance website - http://support.ccalliance.org/site/TR?fr_id=1720&pg=entry
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