Summary

Colorectal cancer can affect wellbeing. Colorectal cancer can be detected. Colorectal cancer can be treated. Talk to your medical provider about when you should be screened for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal Cancer and Wellbeing

March is colorectal cancer month. Receiving a diagnosis of colorectal cancer can affect a person’s wellbeing and affect the wellbeing of their partner, their siblings, their children, their friends, their co-workers, and their neighbour’s. Let’s discuss colorectal cancer and wellbeing.

What is colorectal cancer?

Colorectal cancer is cancer that is present in the colon (large intestine) or the rectum or both. Colorectal cancer which spreads can be fatal. Colorectal can be detected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) provides a concise and easily understandable synopsis of the symptoms you may experience if you have colorectal cancer:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer#:~:text=Colorectal%20cancer%20is%20a%20type,people%20over%2050%20years%20old.

The American Cancer Society recommends that people be screened starting at 45 years of age if they are at average risk for developing colorectal cancer. Persons with risk factors for colorectal cancer may need to be screened before the age of 45 years old.

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html

Risk factors include genetics, ethnicity, and access to health care services. Please consult the American Cancer Society’s website for more details:

https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

Colorectal Cancer and Your Wellbeing

Any health condition may affect your sense of wellbeing. A diagnosis of cancer may affect your sense of wellbeing. If you are diagnosed with colorectal cancer, the wellbeing of your support network may be affected.

Imagine being diagnosed with colorectal cancer. You may wonder: how long will I survive? You will likely want to know what treatments are available to you and if those treatments have side effects. Your mind may take you to darker places like whether you will survive long enough to attend your friend’s wedding or to visit friends in a different state or to witness the birth of a child or grandchild.

If you are having such thoughts, you can bet your bottom dollar that your loved ones are experiencing similar thoughts. Health conditions impact the wellbeing of the person diagnosed with them and affect the wellbeing of those who care about them.

What You Can Do

Get screened. Talk to your medical provider and ask when you should be screened for colorectal cancer.

Work on your self-care. Eat a healthy diet. Pay attention to your sleep habits. Exercise. Remain socially connected. Stay away from alcohol. Avoid using drugs or seek treatment for drug use. Develop hobbies. Help charitable organizations. Take care of your community. Go outside and enjoy nature. Practice gratitude. Embrace being compassionate to other people.

Seek treatment with a mental health professional.

Take-aways: Colorectal Cancer and Wellbeing

Colorectal cancer can affect wellbeing. We can take steps to manage our wellbeing in the face of colorectal cancer. Stay informed and take action.

I leave you to the wonderful resources of Hip Hop Public Health, including their two videos about colorectal cancer. I cannot deliver the information as well as they do.

https://www.hhph.org/work/learning-studio/colon-cancer-awareness

https://www.hhph.org/work/learning-studio/hazte-la-prueba-para-detectar-el-cancer-de-colon

and NYS DOH has resources as well:

https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/cancer/colorectal/campaign/

Be well. Stay safe. Take care.

Disclaimer: This post is not meant to substitute for a consultation with your mental health professional team.

If you are having thoughts to hurt yourself or others, please CALL 9-1-1; CALL 9-8-8; or GO TO the nearest emergency;

Selected References:

American Cancer Society. (January 29, 2024). American Cancer Society Guideline for Colorectal Cancer Screening. Accessed online on March 23, 2025, at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/acs-recommendations.html

American Cancer Society (January 29, 2024). Colorectal Cancer Risk Factors. Accessed online on March 23, 2025, at https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/colon-rectal-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html

Hollis, R.H., and Chu, D.I. (8 Mar 2022). Health Disparities and Colorectal Cancer. Surg Oncol Clin N Am, 31(2): 157-169. Accessed online on March 23, 2025, at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8968072/

World Health Organization (July 11, 2023). Colorectal cancer. Accessed online on March 23, 2025, at https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/colorectal-cancer#:~:text=Colorectal%20cancer%20is%20a%20type,people%20over%2050%20years%20old.