It's time for you to recognize the signs of colon cancer and the ways you can prevent it.

WHAT IS COLORECTAL CANCER? Cancer cells that form in the last six feet of the digestive system (tihs is your colon and rectum). It is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer for men and women, and the second leading cause of cancer deaths.

WH0 ARE AT RISK? People 50 years old or older. If this cancer runs in your family history or even if one has a personal history of this kind of cancer, polyps or other inflammatory bowel disease.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS? Change in bowel habits or in the way your stool looks (narrower), blood in the stool (bright red or very dark), weight loss for an unknown reason, diarrhea, constipation, gas pains, bloating or vomiting.

WHAT ARE SOME COLON CANCER TESTS? Fecal Occult Blood Test or Fecal Immunochemical test, Double Contrast Barium Enema and Sigmoidoscopy/ Colonoscopy.

PREVENTION:
*Diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grain.
*Limit high fat foods
*Excercise 30 minutes five or more days a week.
*Maintain a healthy body weight
*Don't smoke
*Get recommended screenings

The American Cancer Society recommends the following for men and women 50 years old and older:

*Fecal Occult Blood Test or Fecal Immunochemical test every year.
*Flexible Sigmoidoscopy every 5 years.
*Or both FOBT/FIT and Flexible Sigmoidoscopy together every 5 years.
*Double Contrast Barium Enema every 5 years.
*Colonoscopy every 10 years.