As hundreds of Marylanders return from spending their holiday weekend in Ocean City, they are encountering a ten-mile back up at the Kent Narrows Bridge in the westbound lanes. Yes, it has been a fun weekend – three days for some, four days for many others – with a ton of information about skin cancer and wearing sunscreen appropriately posted everywhere. The newspapers had ads; magazines too! Naturally all the shops selling sunscreen had it posted in their windows. However, as the holiday comes to an end, travelers are finding billboards loaded with new advertisements helping to raise awareness of another preventable cancer – colon cancer!
Some advertisements are stating various statistics while others are promoting various medical facilities and still others are encouraging residents to ask their doctors about getting screened. At least one billboard states, “Most preventable cancer… get your colonoscopy now!”
According to the statistics available from the CDC, Marylanders face a 35.7 incidence of colorectal cancer in the state per 100,000 residents. The available facts in 2012 also show a 14.4 incident rate of deaths for those diagnosed with this form of cancer for all races and ethnic groups. The report notes these statistics were age adjusted based on the stats from the 2000 U.S. census numbers. Sadly, colon cancer is the third most commonly detected cancer. Yet, it is also easily preventable for patients receiving routine colon screenings such as colonoscopies.
The colon has four distinct sections (ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid) where cancers are formed, usually starting as polyps. Most of these cancers are slow-growing, often over a ten year period. The polyps (pre-cancerous forms) can be easily removed during a colonoscopy, thus eliminating the development of cancer. It should be noted that statistics show that the ascending and transverse sections of the colon are collectively referred to as the proximal colon where tumors are most common among women and older patients. The descending colon and sigmoid, referred to as the distal colon, has a higher incidence of tumors among men and younger patients.
According to the statistics available from the American Cancer Society, nationally, Caucasian men have an approximately 51 incidence rate while African American men have a 64 incidence rate. Their mortality rates are 20 and 30 percent respectively. Women, who are always vying for equality, are 39 (C.) and 47 (AA) incident rate with their mortality rates at 14 and 20 respectively. It is good to see that women have not gained equality in the colon cancer arena.
Within the state of Maryland based on our population the rates, we are slightly below the national averages. For men, Caucasian the rate is almost 47 compared to the nation’s 51; African American 54 compared to the national rate of 64. Sadly the Maryland mortality rates of 19 and 30 respectively are nearly equal to the national 20 and 30 percent rates. For women, the rates are 35 (C.) and 42 (AA) respectively compared to the national incidence rates of 39 and 47. Sadly the mortality rates for women, our mortality at 13 and 19 respectively are also nearly equal to the national numbers of 14 and 20.
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