NEWS & FEATURES
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Courtesy Story U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden
Did you know that Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women combined in the United States? Sixty eight percent of deaths could be prevented with screening and it’s 90 percent curable if treated during stage one. March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. This is an effort to spread the word that CRC is preventable with screening and treatable if caught early. The USPSTF (US Preventative Services Task Force) recommends screening for colorectal cancer in all adults’ages 50 to 75 years. Recommendations for starting screening earlier vary but it is generally recommended to start screening at the age of 45 for patients with a higher risk of colon cancer (African Americans or patients with a family history of colon cancer). According to Maj.Jennifer Chambers, a primary health physician with the Wiesbaden Army Health Clinic,there are screening options available to health clinic patients and include: Collecting fecal occult blood samples yearly. Patients obtain a small sample of stool at home and brings it back to the lab. Also, there are kits provided by the lab which allows the patient to obtain samples at home and send it back via mail. This is recommended every one to three years. Every 10 years, a colonoscopy is performed by a Gastroenterology specialist. Chambers said it is important to note that a Colonoscopy is still the Gold Standard screening test because it allows for direct visualization of areas of concern and biopsies can be completed during the procedure. If you do not have any symptoms and meet the age criteria, please send a
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message to your WAHC blood in the stool; howPrimary care provider via ever, it’s a fairly common tricareonline.com secured colorectal cancer symptom messaging portal to request and should alert you that colorectal cancer screening, something’s not right. she said. There is no standard Also, Chambers stressed normal for bowel habits, that knowing the symptoms but if you experience of colorectal cancer and significant bowel habit understanding your risks changes you should seek may prevent this cancer medical attention. from happening to you, Narrow stools can be or help you catch it as caused by several things, early as possible. Some early ranging from harmless, stages of colorectal can- temporary conditions to cer may not show any signs (which is why screening INVEST IN YOUR is so important). If OWN FUTURE you have any signs • Individual planning, Germany wide and Benelux etc. or symptoms of • Use your LQA, OHA and other allowances colorectal cancer, for your own home do not ignore them. • Mortgages available to service members, If you notice DoD civilians, contractors blood (either bright • Also to EU/ UN / NATO employees, red or very dark) in non-German tax-payers and expatriates the stool (poop), • More than 20 years of experience make sure to talk to your doctor. Not all cases of colorectal cancer will include rectal bleeding or
more serious underlying medical conditions. But if you experience narrow stools for more than a week, seek medical attention from your doctor. Most people produce about 1 to 4 pints of gas a day and pass gas about 14 times a day. Any obstruction in the colon, including cancer, can hinder your ability to pass gas. If you experience rapid or unintended weight loss, this may be a sign of cancer. In patients with cancer, weight loss is often a result of cancer cells consuming the body’s energy as they multiply. In addition, your immune system is also spending more energy to fight and destroy cancer cells. Similar to patients experiencing weight loss for no reason, cancer can also cause you to experience constant weakness and fatigue. Since cancer cells multiply unchecked, the constant, extra energy consumption can cause you to feel very tired despite having normal rest. Chronic fatigue is most likely a sign of an underlying
medical condition, even if it is not caused by colorectal cancer. If you experience fatigue that is not alleviated by normal rest or sleep, seek attention from your doctor. It’s not uncommon for individuals diagnosed in the early stages (stage I or II) to not experience any colorectal cancer symptoms. Symptoms of early-stage colorectal cancer are not always obvious or visible. Oftentimes it’s only when colorectal cancer has grown into late-stage cancer or spread that symptoms appear. Chambers said if you have any of the listed symptoms, please schedule an appointment with your primary care provider for further evaluation and testing. You may schedule your appointment via tricareonline.com or calling the central appointment line at 06371-9464-5762 or DSN 590-5762. Additional information can be found at the following website: https://fightcolorectalcancer.org
martin.sattelberger@mlp.de Tel: 06 21 - 15 03 00 58
March 11, 2021
Herald Union
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