By Ji Hyun Lim
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in men and women, and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, according to American Cancer Society.
Asian Pacific Islanders are particularly vulnerable to the disease. An American Cancer Society study of several geographic areas such as San Francisco found the API population had the highest incidence rate of rectal cancer and second highest incidence rate of colon cancer.
When detected early, however, it is usually curable.
“Education, early detection, and research is very important,” June Chan, a spokesperson for the American Cancer Society, said.
To get the word out, the Cancer Society kicked off March’s colorectal cancer month with help from volunteers and local community groups, such as the San Francisco’s Chinatown Public Health Center and the Chinese Hospital.
Gastroenterologist Eddie Cheung, a volunteer doctor for the American Cancer Society, explained that colorectal cancer occurs from tiny growths in the colon called polyps. Those called hyperplasic polyps do not cause cancer. However, adenomatous polyps when enlarged to one centimeter in diameter carry a 1 percent chance of turning cancerous.
As adenomatous polyps grow to two centimeters in diameter, the risk factor increases to 5 to 10 percent. A growth of three centimeters (or the size of a strawberry) increases risk of cancer to 35 to 40 percent.
The cancer can grow inward toward the hollow part of the colon or rectum, and/or outward through the wall of these organs (refer to diagram). If not treated, cells from the tumor may break away and spread through the bloodstream or lymph system to other parts of the body.
The Cancer Research Foundation reports that 91 percent of patients with localized colorectal cancer (confined to the colon or rectum) survive at least five years after diagnosis.
But catching the disease early is difficult. Cheung said 90 percent of those afflicted with colorectal cancer have no early symptoms.
When symptoms do occur, they include: a change in bowel habits (i.e. diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days); a feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that doesn’t go away; bleeding from the rectum or blood in the stool; stomach pain; decreased appetite; weakness or fatigue; or jaundice (yellow-green color of the skin and white part of the eye).
Prevention is key. Cheung advises eating grains, vegetables, low fat, high fiber diet coupled with regular exercise. Since there is a genetic link to colorectal cancer, if a family member has been diagnosed, it is important to get screened. The Cancer Society also advises against smoking.
Studies show that dietary changes have increased the chances of developing colorectal cancer among the Chinese American community.
“A Chinese American man in the United States has seven times higher incidence of colorectal cancer than their counterpart living in China,” Cheung said. “Women are twice as susceptible. When they move to the United States, their dietary habits change. Whether it’s the hamburger or pizza, it increases the risk.”
Because 75 percent of all new cases occur in people over 50, the Cancer Society recommends periodic examinations. The testing or detection of colorectal cancer should involve yearly fecal and blood tests, and flexible sigmoidoscopy and double-contrast barium every five years, or a colonoscopy every 10 years.
Numerous screening services are available and Medicare covers the costs. Throughout the next three months, there will be six free seminars for the Bay Area Chinese-speaking community, including two in Sunnyvale, two in Oakland, and two in San Francisco. Expected to draw 100 to 200 people, each seminar will be conducted in Cantonese or Mandarin with translations. Martin Yan from Yan Can Cook will be on hand to promote prevention.
“We featured Martin Yan because for the past 20 years he’s been an advocate of healthy eating and lifestyles, and he also speaks Cantonese and Mandarin,” Chan said.
The seminars are particularly important, considering Asian Americans are generally hesitant to get screened.
“People are ignorant about the colorectal cancer, and they are embarrassed to talk about their stool. It’s dirty,” Cheung said, who added that often API immigrants lack access to health care and don’t have insurance.
For more information, contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-ACS-2345 or www.cancer.org. |
