This past Saturday my mother-in-law, Joyce Hall, passed away. And even though it was not unexpected and we thought of ourselves as being prepared for it. I guess we never are. Joyce spent most of her adult life as a teacher here in the Natchez public schools. In honor of her love of teaching I hope this column will teach each of you about colon cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, not counting skin cancers, colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer found in men and women in this country. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be about 112,340 new cases of colon cancer and 41,420 new cases of rectal cancer in 2007 in the United States. Combined, they will cause about 52,180 deaths.

In most cases, colorectal cancers develop slowly over a period of several years. We now know that most of these cancers begin as a polyp — a growth of tissue that starts in the lining and grows into the center of the colon or rectum. A type of polyp known as an adenoma can become cancerous. Removing the polyp early may prevent it from becoming cancer. The death rate from colorectal cancer has been going down for the past 15 years. One reason is that there are fewer cases. Thanks to colorectal cancer screening, polyps can be found and removed before they turn into cancer. And colorectal cancer can also be found earlier when it is easier to cure.

Screening tests are used to look for disease in people who do not have any symptoms. In many cases, these tests can find colorectal cancers at an early stage and greatly improve the chances of successful treatment. Screening tests can also help prevent some cancers by allowing doctors to find and remove polyps that might become cancer. There are several tests used to look for colorectal cancer.

One of them is a colonoscopy. This procedure allows your doctor to look at your colon. Often polyps can be find early during a colonoscopy and sent to a lab to see if there are cancer cells present.

While nothing guarantees you won’t get colon cancer, there are some measures you can take to decrease your risks. The following recommendations are from the American Cancer Society.

First, you should follow the early detection screening guidelines mentioned above to help find and prevent colorectal cancer. When these cancers are found and treated early, they can often be cured. Screening can also find polyps. Taking out these polyps helps prevent some cancers.

People who have a history of colorectal cancer in their family should check with their doctor for advice about screening tests or other tests to find cancer early.

People can lower their risk of getting colorectal cancer by taking charge of the risk factors that they can control, such as diet and exercise. It is important to eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grain foods and to limit intake of high-fat foods. Getting enough exercise is also important.

Above all, talk to your physician about colon cancer and when you should be screened.

Your good health matters to more people than just yourself. So take care yourself and your family.

The information in this article regarding colon cancer and its detection is from the American Cancer Society.

Christina Hall can be reached at christina.hall@natchezdemocrat.com.