Myths and Facts on Colon Cancer

MYTHS

FACTS

Colon cancer affects only older people.

The median age at which colorectal cancer occurs is 62 years, but the risk of developing colon cancer starts rising at age 40. In addition, many younger people have colon cancer risk factors. There are also some cases of younger patients with no known risk factors who develop colon cancer before the age of 40.

Colon cancer occurs primarily in people with a family history of cancer.

About 75% of all new cases of colon cancer occur in people with no known risk factors for the disease.

Polyps in people with a history of colon cancer progress to cancer faster than polyps in people without a history of colon cancer.

There is no evidence to suggest that polyps progress to cancer at a different rate in people with a history of colon cancer than in people with an average risk of developing colon cancer

Rectal bleeding that resolves is not due to colorectal cancer.

Rectal bleeding can be caused by many factors, including cancer. Patients often make the mistake of attributing rectal bleeding only to hemorrhoids. When the bleeding stops, patients often do not seek proper medical care. Polyps and cancers bleed intermittently, so an episode of rectal bleeding may be the first sign of colorectal cancer. Therefore, rectal bleeding should always be properly evaluated to rule out colon cancer

People who have a first-degree relative diagnosed with colon cancer should have their colon removed because they are at very high risk of developing colon cancer

The risk for colon cancer in those with a positive family history is increased about twofold. But this is not sufficient reason to have the colon removed. In patients with the inherited colon cancer syndromes (e.g., familial adenomatous polyposis) total removal of the colon would be considered. People with a family history of colon cancer should, however, follow recommendations for starting colorectal screening at a younger age than average risk individuals.

Colon cancer always causes symptoms that can be readily recognized by patients

People with colon cancer may initially have no symptoms or have only vague symptoms that could be caused by a number of conditions. Such symptoms are often ignored. This can lead to delayed diagnosis and may affect chances for cure, since the best chance for cure in colon cancer is when the cancer is detected at an early stage.

MYTHS

FACTS

All lung cancers are the same

No, they're not. A cascade of mutations leads to varying patterns of cancer growth (small-cell, non-small-cell), varying rates of cancer growth, varying abilities to spread, and varying abilities to resist therapy

Smoking cessation offers little benefit to lowering lung cancer risk in an individual who has smoked for most of his or her life

Smoking cessation will definitely reduce an individual's risk of death from lung cancer. The risk of developing lung cancer persists for more than a decade after an individual stops smoking, but is reduced with time, and after 10 years, is about half that of a continuing smoker.

If I pay attention to the "early warning signs" of lung cancer (cough, chest discomfort, or coughing up blood), I will be able to diagnose it early enough to allow curative treatment

By the time an individual presents with any of the "warning signs" of lung cancer, the cancer is, unfortunately, already at a late stage. Lung cancer is one of the most notoriously difficult cancers to diagnose early.

If only someone had taken a chest x-ray a few months ago, I could have found this cancer early, and not been in this predicament

Lung cancers can arise a decade before they are even visible for the first time. Events occurring weeks or months before a diagnosis are not significant in determining outcome. This is a critical concept for patients and their physicians to understand.

I am a heavy smoker, but if I take large doses of vitamins and antioxidants, I can prevent the development of lung cancer.

Although there are some population-wide studies suggesting that antioxidants have a beneficial effect in reducing the incidence of cancer, it has thus far been impossible to apply this to risk reduction in any individual. In reality, very little is understood about the interaction of diet in the prevention of lung cancer.