March is Colon Cancer Awareness Month and the community is being reminded to get checked.
While colon and colorectal cancer is most prevalent with people over the age of 50, officials encourage everyone to watch for the warning signs.
Things to watch for include a change in bowel habits, rectal bleeding, dark stools or blood in your stool, cramping, abdominal pain, weakness, fatigue and unintended weight loss.
Dr. Scott Shulman, a gastroenterologist at North Bay Regional Health Centre, says regular colorectal screening, staying active, reducing or eliminating red and processed meat, not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight are all ways to keep your colon healthy.
“Colonoscopies are a preventative tool,” said Dr. Shulman. “We can make diagnoses and remove small and large polyps. If you have a family history of colon cancer or large polyps are discovered in your colon, you should be getting a colonoscopy every five years. If your results are clear and you have no family history then having a colonoscopy every ten years, is reasonable.”
NBRHC performed 3,193 colonoscopies last year and has seen an increase in the rates of colon and colorectal cancer.
It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canada with more than 90 percent occurring in people over the age of 50.
This means there is a need for more and new colonoscopes.
The current wait time for a procedure is two months if you’re experiencing symptoms, and six months if you have no symptoms.
NBRHC Foundation hopes to purchase upgraded colonoscopes, thanks to community donations from the Cancer Care, Close to Home campaign, which is currently raising funds to purchased urgently needed medical equipment.

Filed under: colon cancer, North Bay Regional Health Centre