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9 States with the Highest Colorectal Cancer Rates

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Colorectal cancer is one of the most treatable cancers, but treatment requires diagnosis, and diagnosis requires screening. Unfortunately, millions of Americans forego colorectal cancer screening and colorectal cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 28 percent of adults in the United States have never been screened for colorectal cancer. About two-thirds (65 percent) were up to date in screenings, and 7 percent had been screened but were not current on their screenings.

Colorectal cancer often has no symptoms until it is in advanced stages, which makes it even more dangerous. The “Why should I go to the doctor if I feel fine?” mentality just doesn’t work when it comes to colorectal cancer because often there is no accompanying pain. Diagnosis is usually shocking and sometimes devastating.

For the first time in 13 years, colorectal cancer has gotten the attention it deserves. President Obama declared March as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. A nationally recognized month has helped spread awareness about colorectal cancer and the need for screening.

In 2011, the CDC gathered data from the 50 states to rank the states with the highest rates of colorectal cancer. The ranking may surprise you, but the numbers don’t lie. Here are the results from highest overall incidence rate to lower. The number that follows indicates the cases of colorectal cancer per 100,000 people.

  1. Kentucky (58.8)
  2. Mississippi (58.5)
  3. West Virginia (57.0)
  4. Hawaii (56.2)
  5. Louisiana (55.9)
  6. Iowa (54.6)
  7. Illinois (53.9)
  8. South Dakota (52.5)
  9. Pennsylvania (51.3)

We have the power to change these statistics, one colonoscopy at a time. If you have not had a colon screening, promise yourself to make that call today. Also, encourage a loved one to schedule a colonoscopy, and offer to drive him or her to and from the procedure. Colorectal cancer incidences can drop dramatically if we do our part to spread the word and stay up to date on our own screenings.

6 Surprising Foods That Can Cause Constipation

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According to the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse, approximately 15 percent of Americans have constipation. Apparently, the most likely candidates for back-up are women, adults 65 and older, non-Caucasians and those in lower socioeconomic classes. Constipation can result from several factors such as inadequate water consumption, insufficient fiber, pregnancy and sedentary lifestyle. To promote regularity, men should consume at least 38 grams of fiber per day and women should consume at least 25 grams of fiber per day.

Certain foods are more constipating, so it is helpful to know what foods have a tendency to back you up. Here is a list of foods that commonly cause constipation, so if you struggle with going No. 2, you should avoid these foods:

  1. Bananas—Green bananas are higher in starch, which can result in constipation because of tannins. These bitter chemicals cause constipation in some people, but not all. Remember the BRAT diet for treating diarrhea? The “B” stood for bananas!
  2. Bread—You don’t need a gluten allergy or wheat allergy to be bothered by bread. The digestive tract does not always break down and absorb bread, so the sugars in bread often ferment and produce gas.
  3. Chips—Although these snacks are irresistible in the texture and taste department, they are poor in nutrients. Chips are low in fiber and high in fat, resulting in a lose-lose combination when it comes to constipation. Unfortunately, almost any other side dish is healthier than chips, so eat them sparingly.
  4. Chocolate—The newest hype is that dark chocolate is good for you, but this is only true in moderation. Chocolate actually slows down the digestive process and is among the worst culprits for causing constipation.
  5. Frozen dinners—Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s may be convenient and easy on the pocketbook, but they are hard on the gut. Frozen meals are high in fat, sodium and preservatives and low in fiber. The processing of foods removes fiber and makes it difficult for the body to push waste through the GI tract.
  6. Red meat—Hamburgers, steak and pot roast are American favorites, but red meat causes digestive problems because it remains in the stomach for a longer period of time compared to other foods. Do you know that “extra full feeling” you have after eating a big beef dinner? This feeling is due to the fact that the meat is so slow to digest.

The answer is not to eliminate all six of these foods from your diet. Rather, pair these constipating foods with fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains so your digestive system remains in balance. Your body needs a variety of foods to absorb all the vitamins and nutrients it needs, so eat all foods in moderate amounts. Drinking plenty of water and getting adequate exercise is also necessary for a healthy digestive system that functions properly.

If you are struggling with constipation, keep a food diary and record the foods that you eat. This way, you can isolate which foods or combination of foods may be causing discomfort. Chronic constipation should never be ignored and should be addressed with a doctor if it continues (Source: Medical Daily).

Katie Couric Stands Up to Colon Cancer

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It seems like every celebrity has a cause. They cynical part of me wonders if there is any real passion behind the fundraising or if it’s just the cool thing to do to have a charity to support. But when I read about or watch Katie Couric share about her initiatives to stamp out colon cancer, I know she’s the real deal. To increase awareness of colon cancer in the month of March, Katie shared some of her story about how she became an advocate for colon screening and education.

Sometimes a cause finds you even when you are not looking. Eighteen years ago, Katie got a phone call her husband. Jay Monahan, was doubled over in pain. Jay’s bowel was completely obstructed by a tumor the size of an orange. After a 9-month battle, colon cancer took Jay’s life. Now, Katie has made it her life’s work to be a spokeswoman for cancer. She founded Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) with eight other women, and she has TV networks as full collaborators. Athletes, television personalities and big screen actors and actresses have joined with Katie to support her cause, but there is still more work to do. She says this of her ongoing work: “There has been progress, but it’s uneven. A 30 percent decline in colon cancer cases is encouraging, but so many people who should be getting screened aren’t. The well-to-do-and/or well educated largely get tested, while the medically underserved and the uninsured often do not.”

Katie has also impacted individuals on a personal level, engaging in conversations with people she encounters on an everyday basis. She is touched when men and women open up about how cancer has affected someone they love. Remember how she aired her colonoscopy on national television to support the importance of regular colon screenings? Katie says that, more than any other comment, when people meet her they often say, “I got a colonoscopy because of you, and it saved my life!”

Who would have guessed that one of the most recognizable news anchors would someday be just as well-known for her advocacy for cancer? Sometimes life takes us in directions that we could never imagine and gives us passions that surprise us. It is impossible to put a number on how many millions of people have been impacted by Katie Couric’s courage and determination to spread awareness about cancer, but her effect has been profound. Maybe you won’t remember any specific interviews that Katie has done in her career, but you probably won’t forget her passion for cancer screening, early detection and treatment. She certainly would prefer that. Every man or woman who is influenced by her campaign is a way to honor her late husband’s memory. This is not just a temporary cause that will be thrown to the wayside. She’s in this for the long haul and it shows. Katie Couric’s passion is real. Her mission is clear. And I’m a believer.

Tips for Colonoscopy Prep for Diabetics

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There are over 29 million diabetics in the United States, and the number is steadily increasing. Every year, thousands of diabetics schedule colonoscopies. If you have diabetes, a colonoscopy prep can be challenging because it means missing meals or changing your eating schedule. Therefore, it is especially important to monitor your blood sugar throughout the prep period.

Here are some tips for a successful prep that is compatible with a diabetic menu:

On the day before your colonoscopy, you should aim for 45 grams of carbohydrates at meals and 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrates for snacks. You have several options for clear liquids that have no carbohydrates. Some of these choices include fat-free broth or bullion, clear diet soda, coffee, tea (unsweetened or diet), seltzer and flavored water.

You can have clear liquids that do contain carbohydrates but you need to monitor the amount. Use this as a guide:

  • 4 oz. apple juice— 15 grams
  • 4 oz. white grape juice— 15 grams
  • 8 oz. Gatorade— 14 grams
  • ½ cup Jell-O (regular, sweetened)—15 grams
  • Orange popsicle (read the label)—15 grams
  • Italian ice (read the label)— 30 grams
  • 1 teaspoon sugar (for coffee or tea)— 4 grams

Here is a sample menu for your prep day

Breakfast Lunch Dinner
Apple or white grape juice— 1 cup Broth— ¾ cup Broth— ¾ cup
Regular sweetened gelatin— 1 cup Italian ice— ½ cup Strained fruit juice— 1 cup
Tea with lemon Regular sweetened gelatin— ½ cup Regular sweetened gelatin— ½ cup
Tea with lemon Tea with lemon

On the day of the colonoscopy

  1. Bring your glucose meter, test strips and low blood glucose treatment with you on the day of your procedure.
  2. Schedule the appointment for early in the day so that you can eat as soon as possible and take your medication.
  3. Resume your normal medication schedule.

Free Colonoscopy Prep Advice!

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Don’t you just love free advice? Everyone has an opinion and wants to share it. Marriage advice. Legal advice. Parenting advice. There’s never a shortage of free, unsolicited advice and much of it is totally useless. Well, take heart. Here is some free advice that is worth its weight in gold. The Colon Cancer Alliance compiled a list of free advice about colonoscopy prep and you are the lucky recipient!

Maybe you are getting ready for your very first colonoscopy and you feel nervous or unprepared. Maybe your first colonoscopy prep was a little rough and you would like to have a few more tricks up your sleeve this time around. Or maybe it’s not even time for your baseline colonoscopy, but you just want to read as much as you can so you are ready when your special day arrives! Whatever your reason might be, just enjoy reaping the benefits of someone else’s colonoscopy prep experiences. Here is a little teaser of the complete list from the Colon Cancer Alliance:

 

The Day Before the Prep

  1. Eat a large breakfast, small lunch and tiny dinner. The prep day will be so much easier.
  2. Stop eating meat at least five days before the procedure.
  3. Go to liquids-only diet at least three days before the prep.
  4. Write a nice note on your tush to surprise your doc.

On Drinking the Prep

  1. Drink it cold. Chase it with cold water.
  2. Don’t mix [the prep] with your favorite drink flavor because you may always associate that flavor with the prep.
  3. Use a straw to drink any prep…It goes down faster and you don’t really taste it.
  4. Gummy bears dissolve at body temperature to a clear liquid so they are okay to take with the prep and give you something to eat.
  5. Stick the prepared prep in the freezer for an hour or two before you drink it.

During the Prep

  1. WET TOILET PAPER/BABY WIPES. Towards the end, your bum will be pretty sore.
  2. Don’t let anybody cook anything. You can’t eat, and when you smell food, it makes you so hungry.
  3. Just drink the prep while on the toilet… you’ll be there for a while!
  4. Softest toilet paper money can buy!
  5. Laughter with a friend (whether via phone or in person) during the whole prep! Makes it so much easier!
  6. Ice, pinch my nose and lots of Preparation H.

 

Make sure to visit the Colon Cancer Alliance’s 27 Insider Tips and Tricks for Colonoscopy Prep to read more helpful and humorous insight on how to get ready for your colonoscopy. The best part is that all advice is FREE!

Your Laxative Could be Preventing – or Causing – Colorectal Cancer

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If you take laxatives, pay attention to the type you are purchasing. According to a large study that involved more than 75,000 adults in Washington, the type of laxative you buy could help prevent colorectal cancer or could increase your risk. Fiber-based laxatives are associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer, and non-fiber laxatives may significantly increase your risk for the disease.

Twenty percent of Americans use laxatives, so this is pertinent information for millions of men and women. What is the difference between the two types of laxatives? Non-fiber laxatives are more common, and they force the colon to contract. Fiber-based laxatives get their effectiveness from increasing water volume in the intestines to create bulk in the stool and move it through the colon.

Just how much does the type of laxative affect your colorectal cancer risk? The study found that men and women who used non-fiber laxatives five or more times per year had a 49 percent increase risk for colorectal cancer. Conversely, using a fiber-based laxative at least four days per week for four years lowered the risk for colorectal cancer by 56 percent!

Jessica Citronberg, M.P.H., a predoctoral fellow in the Public Health Sciences Division at Fred Hutch, authored the study. She responded to the results by saying, “I wouldn’t necessarily jump the gun and say because of this study people should stop taking stimulant laxatives. I think the better route to go would just be to have a healthy diet. While the study results suggest that non-fiber laxatives increase your risk and fiber laxatives decrease your risk, more research is needed” (Source: Webwire).

Six Reasons Why You Should Schedule Your Colonoscopy During the Holidays this Year

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The holidays are coming. Finally! It’s time to think about turkey, football, gift giving, decorating and a colonoscopy. Wait, one of these items don’t seem to fit the theme… or does it? A colonoscopy may not be what you might think of during this season, but the holidays are a perfect time for a colon screening. You may think that scheduling a colon screening may interfere with your family plans or your holiday schedule, but it may not be as inconvenient as you may think. Here are a few reasons that the holidays are actually the best time to schedule your colon screening:

  1. Most people have a day or two before and/or after a holiday. Some people will take a few days off around a holiday. You will have to miss at least one day of work for your colonoscopy. Why not schedule your procedure when you will not have to go to work the following day? Sometimes a day before or after a holiday might actually work in your favor.
  2. Your husband, wife, family member or friend may be off work as well. You will need a caregiver to drive you home from your colonoscopy because the sedation medication will still be in your system. Scheduling your colonoscopy around the holidays may prevent you and your caregiver from taking extra days off work.
  3. On your bowel prep day, there will be plenty of holiday movies to keep you entertained while you spend quality time in your pajamas near the bathroom.
  4. Holiday foods will taste even better after you have had your procedure!
  5. You will have lots of support from your friends and family who may be visiting during the holidays.
  6. Since it is the end of the year, you may have met your health care deductible. You may have very little financial responsibility for your colonoscopy, or it may be fully covered.

End the year with a commitment to good health. Scheduling a colonoscopy around the holidays will be one of the best decisions you can make. Do not delay in making your appointment, as doctors also like to take time off as well! Call your insurance provider to ask about your colonoscopy screening benefits and inquire about what your out-of-pocket cost will be. Then, you will be ready to schedule your procedure. Happy Holidays and Happy Colonoscopy!

Best Probiotics for Your Health

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Did you know that there are trillions of bacteria that live in your gastrointestinal system? Before you run to the doctor thinking that there is something wrong with you, please relax! Many of these strains of bacteria are essential for digestion and supporting healthy immunity. Keeping gut bacteria in balance is an important part of good health. Stress, travel, illness or taking a course of antibiotics can disrupt and even eliminate colonies of beneficial bacteria and make you susceptible to digestive problems.

Benefits of Probiotics

What can you do to re-establish the balance of gut flora or maintain the healthy balance of bacteria in your GI tract? Living microorganisms called probiotics can be beneficial in establishing healthy digestion and immunity. Probiotics can help ease irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), promote regularity, and prevent and treat yeast infections. New studies suggest that probiotics may prevent vascular disease, depression and even cancer!

Because probiotics help restore equilibrium to intestinal bacteria, their effects are most easily seen when gut flora balance has been disrupted. This is not to say that probiotics are not beneficial when you are feeling healthy, but they are not magic. Probiotics are to digestion as premium gas is to fuel efficiency. Not all probiotics are equal, though, so you have to read labels carefully. Food manufacturers know that “Probiotics” is a buzz word now, and many foods claim to contain probiotics.

Fermented is Best

The most natural forms of probiotics are in fermented foods, but do not assume that fermented means rotten. Fermented foods, by definition, have undergone chemical alternation that produces digestive-friendly enzymes, bacteria and nutrients. Look for words like raw, lacto-fermented or unpasteurized (Source: Women’s Health). This means that the beneficial bacteria have not been killed in the manufacturing process. Some examples are:

  • Yogurt is a multi-billion dollar industry today. Look for yogurt that has live cultures, preferably billions of live cultures.
  • Kimchi is a mixture of spicy, pickled vegetables like cabbage, carrots and radishes that are full of lactobacilli. Kimchi is an acquired taste but has some of the best health benefits.
  • Kefir is actually cultured milk that contains beneficial bacteria and yeast. It tastes like drinkable yogurt. Most people cannot tell the difference between kefir and thin yogurt.
  • Sauerkraut is fermented cabbage that is tart and zingy. Do not over-eat sauerkraut, however, because it is fermented with salt and is high in sodium.

Read Labels and Consult Your Doctor

When going to a health food store or especially the health food aisle in your grocery store, read labels carefully. Look for supplements that contain at least 20 billion live organisms per dose. Doses that contain less than 20 billion may be ineffective, and probiotics can be expensive. Before beginning any probiotic, talk to your doctor. Your physician will be able to advise you whether the probiotic you want to take will be helpful to you and whether it will affect any of your other medications.

Adding Some Fun to the Clear, Liquid Diet

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The most important action that you can take as you get ready for your colonoscopy is to follow your doctor’s recommendations exactly. One of the greatest causes for error in a colonoscopy is inadequate bowel preparation. If your bowel is not thoroughly cleansed, your gastroenterologist may miss polyps or lesions. This leads to repeated procedures and higher out-of-pocket costs.

No one likes the idea of being on a clear, liquid diet. Clear liquids are far from interesting and they don’t satisfy hunger. They should be reserved for those recovering from the flu, not someone in good health who is about to have a colon screening!

Unfortunately, a bowel preparation really does require a clear, liquid diet. Yet, do not just conclude that clear liquids just mean water. You have some choices in the type of clear liquids that you can choose. Clear liquids are defined as liquids that you can see through. When a clear liquid is in a container, the container can be seen through the liquid (Source: GBM).

Find a Gastroenterologist

Maybe clear liquids are not what you may be craving, but you have more variety than you probably think. Here are some ideas to add to your list of clear liquids as you prepare for the big day:<

NOTE: It is important that you do not have any red, orange, blue or purple dye in any of your liquids. This can interfere with the colonoscopy and dye your intestines.

  • Clear, carbonated drinks like ginger ale, 7-Up or Sprite
  • Black coffee and hot tea (no cream)
  • Jell-O or gelatin without fruit
  • Fruit juices
  • Powder drink mixes added to water
  • Hard candy that is transparent
  • Fat-free broth (vegetable, chicken or beef) or consommé
  • Popsicles (make sure they are dairy free)
  • Italian ice

Here are a few tips:

  • Learn to like lemon-lime. Yellow and green are “yes” colors when it comes to a colonoscopy, so choose lemon-lime Jell-O, Gatorade and hard candy.
  • Drink lots of soda. Carbonation makes you feel full. Try some soda that you rarely drink, like root beer. It will make you feel like a kid again.
  • Try eating cold Jell-O, then hot broth. Supposedly, this fills you up. The warm liquid expands the gelatin in your stomach and presto! Your tummy is not growling anymore!
  • Try to find interesting popsicle flavors like banana, green apple, or pineapple. The most popular flavors of popsicles are grape, cherry and orange—all no-no colors!

Five Most Commonly Used Bowel Preps and What You Have to Do for Each

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It’s time to have your colonoscopy. You’ve made your appointment, and now it’s time to start thinking of the details like diet and choosing a bowel prep kit. There are many choices of colon flushes, but which one should you choose?

There are about five bowel preps that are the most common at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), but they are all different in chemical composition and how they specifically stimulate the colon. Whichever prep you choose, you will follow the same diet of clear liquids including plain coffee and tea, broths, clear juices, Jell-O and popsicles. Remember that you may not have anything with red, blue or purple food coloring because the dye can appear on a colonoscopy as blood. It is important that you read all the literature and instructions that your doctor gives you because if you do not follow the regimen correctly, you may have to repeat your bowel cleanse and your colonoscopy (Source: Gastro Endo News).

Here is a brief description of the most commonly used preps and what you have to do for each one:

High-Volume Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

  • Common names: Golytely, Colyte, Nulytely and Trilyte
  • What makes it work? PEG is electrolyte-based. It will force out all contents of the bowel by introducing large amounts of volume into the colon (about four liters). The night before your colonoscopy, you will drink eight ounces of the solution every 10 minutes until bowel contents are clear or the solution is consumed.
  • Cons: PEGs taste salty and unpleasant. Some people complain of nausea and cramping.

Low-volume Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

  • Common names: Moviprep
  • What makes it work? Moviprep requires you to consume two liters of PEG and one liter of a liquid of your choice instead of four liters of PEG
  • Cons: Unpleasant taste, which may cause nausea, abdominal pain and vomiting. If you take any medication that increases your risk of blood salt abnormalities, you should consult your physician.

Oral Sulfate Solution. Low volume, split-dose

  • Common name: Suprep
  • What makes it work? You consume a six-ounce bottle the night before your colonoscopy and a six-ounce bottle the day of your colonoscopy
  • Cons: May cause in increase in uric acid, a concern for those with renal trouble. May also cause pain, vomiting, nausea.

Laxatives—magnesium citrate or bisacodyl

  • Common name: Halflytely
  • What makes it work? Taking either laxative with two liters of PEG, or just magnesium citrate, will be sufficient to flush your colon
  • Cons: May cause cramping, discomfort, nausea

Sodium picosulfate/magnesiumoxide/citric acid solution

  • Common names: Osmoprep and Visicol
  • What makes it work? These tablets are taken in two separate doses, on the evening before and the morning of the procedure. You will drink 10 ounces of prep and 64 ounces of any other clear liquid.
  • Cons: May cause bloating, pain and nausea

Choosing the correct bowel prep for you is important for you to have a successful colonoscopy. A safe preparation of the bowel needs to be individual for each patient, based on his or her age, medical history and potential drug interactions. If you have a preferred prep, please inform your doctor. However, if you are advised to use a different method, you should follow directions exactly. A thorough colon flush is the most important part of your colonoscopy, so follow the prep that your doctor recommends. Take a few moments to read some of our other resources like “5 Tips to Conquer the Colonoscopy Prep” and “Your Guide to an Easy Prep.”