Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• You may know someone touched by colon cancer
• 1997 - Baseball player Eric Davis colon cancer
  diagnosis announced
• 1999 - Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
  announced her diagnosis
• 2000 - Peanuts creator Charles Schulz dies from
  colon cancer
• 2002 Sharon Osborne is diagnosed with colon
  cancer
• - First National Colon Cancer Awareness Month
  celebrated in March

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.
2006 Cancer Death Estimates

• In the United States
• Colon cancer is the second leading cause of
  cancer death for men and women.
• The third most common cancer diagnosed
• Approximately 148,610 new cases
• Approximately 55,170 will die
• Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable
  cancers.

Prostate
Breast
Lung
Colon
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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• In Texas
• Approximately 9,510 new cases will be diagnosed
• Approximately 3,530 will die from the disease

Prostate
Breast
Lung
Colon
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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Why dont people talk about colon cancer or get
  screened?
• Uncomfortable topic
• Reluctance to acknowledge age risk factor
• Unfamiliar with testing or screening
• Often perceived as mans disease
• Avoidance of doctor check-ups (i.e., fear of
  finding something wrong)
• No symptoms, no problem

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• What is Colon Cancer?
• Colon cancer begins in the colon or rectum.
• Colon cancer often starts as a pre-cancerous
  polyp a small growth on the lining of the colon
  or rectum.
• Polyps can be detected and removed through
  testing.

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors
• The exact cause of colon cancer is not known.
• Nearly 90 percent of colon cancer patients are
  over the age of 50.

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Testing Options
• Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT) or Fecal
  Immunochemical Test (FIT)
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
• Double-Contrast Barium Enema
• Colonoscopy
• Beginning at age 50, both men and women at
  average risk for developing colon cancer should
  follow 1 of the 5 screening options

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• 1 of the 5 screening options
• FOBT or FIT every year
• Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• FOBT or FIT every year plus flexible
  Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
• Double contrast barium enema every 5 years
• Colonoscopy every 10 years

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Testing should begin earlier and more often for
  people with one of the following risk factors
• A personal or family history of colon cancer or
  polyps
• A personal history of chronic inflammatory bowel
  disease

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Reducing Risk of Colon Cancer through Lifestyle
  Choices
• Get regular exercise - 30 minutes or more on most
  days of the week
• Eat five or more servings of fruits and
  vegetables a day
• Limit high-fat foods, such as red or processed
  meat
• Stop smoking
• Limit alcohol consumption

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Steps you can take to reduce your risk for colon
  cancer
• Stay informed and see with your doctor regularly
• Follow American Cancer Society colon testing
  guidelines
• Maintain a healthy lifestyle

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• PROGRESS is being made through research.
• The American Cancer Society has funded 90
  colorectal cancer-related grants totaling 49.6
  million.

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• The American Cancer Society provides ANSWERS.
• 1-800-ACS-2345
• 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Operator-assisted
• www.cancer.org
• Comprehensive cancer information

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Colon Cancer - True or False
• Similar to prostate cancer, colon cancer can NOT
  be prevented.
• FALSE It CAN be prevented
• Advanced colon cancer has a 42 survival rate.
• FALSE 10 survival
• Colon cancer can often form from a polyp.
• TRUE testing can remove polyps
• Only 39 of colon cancers are found early.
• TRUE testing can save lives.

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Get the Test. Get the Polyp. Get the Cure.

• Thank you!