Podcast #6 

This is the sixth edition of Your Health, Aurora's audio program offering health information and suggestions to keep you and your loved ones healthy. I'm Neal Linkon. If you enjoy or want to keep hearing these programs, please let us know at internet@aurora.org. You also can let us know of any suggestions or ideas for future editions. We really like hearing from you!

Ever walk into one of those health food stores, or even into your local drug store, and wonder at the incredible array of supplements?  Do they do any good, and if they do, how on earth are you supposed to choose from among them?

We put those questions to Dr. Tiffany Mullen, a family practitioner working in West Allis.

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For more information on supplements, or to find out about one you are taking or thinking about taking, go to www.Aurora.org/Supplement.

In health care it's really true: Information is power. We hope these broadcasts help in some small way. But if you really want to take control of your own health, you need to do more.

In addition to these audio programs, Aurora offers a series of free email newsletters on health issues. These offer advice and the latest news and things you need to know about. We have newsletters for women, for men, and on heart disease, cancer, healthy eating, complementary and alternative medicine, and more. To see sample editions or to sign up, go to www.Aurora.org/eNews.

Aurora also offers hundreds of classes, events and support groups to help you manage and improve your health. 

Go to www.Aurora.org/Calendar and you'll see what I mean. There are up to 500 events offered, so take your time and look around to see what's available. Many of them offer online registration, and most are free.

If you don't find what you are looking for, go back to www.Aurora.org/Calendar,  and scroll down just below the “submit” button on the search page until you see a small graphic for “Email notification.”  Click on that link that you'll be able to enter some criteria on the kind of event or class you are looking for. New items are added every day, and when one fitting your criteria is added, you'll automatically get an email with the details and a link to sign up.

Our philosophy of care is called Care management. In each edition of Your Health, we'll look at a Care Management initiative to give you a better idea of what this is all about. Most importantly, these segments will have real meaningful and useful information to help you and your loved ones.

Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in this country. It can be detected early through screening tests. Thousands of lives could be saved each year through screening, yet many people who should be tested are not.

Colorectal cancer refers to cancer of the colon or rectum, both of which make up the large intestine (or large bowel). This cancer usually starts as small benign polyps. Not all polyps turn into cancer, and those that do usually take 5 to 15 years to become cancerous. So removing small polyps early can actually help prevent this cancer.

In the early stages of colorectal cancer, there are often no symptoms. This cancer is most curable when found before it causes symptoms – thus the importance of regular testing. When symptoms do occur, they might include:

• Changes in bowel habits
• Rectal bleeding or blood in the stool (bright red or very dark)
• Abdominal cramps or frequent gas pains or bloating
• Frequent diarrhea or constipation
• Unexplained weight loss or fatigue

Talk with your health care provider about testing if:

• You are age 50 or older
• You are at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer; for example, if you:
  • Have a personal or family history of colorectal cancer
  • Have polyps in your colon or rectum
  • Have a history of endometrial, ovarian, or breast cancer
  • Have inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis)

Men and women age 50 and older should be screened in one of the following ways:

• Colonoscopy every 10 years: This is a precise procedure in which a long flexible tube is used to examine the full length of the colon. This test allows for a close check of the lining of the rectum and the entire colon (lower bowel). If polyps are seen, they can be removed for further testing.
• Fecal occult blood test every year: This is a simple screening test to find unseen blood in the stool, which can be a sign of cancer in the colon or rectal area. Your health care provider may give you a kit with instructions on collecting your own stool samples at home.
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years. This test allows for a close check of the lining of the rectum and part of the colon (lower bowel). A flexible tube is passed into the anus and advanced slowly to the sigmoid colon. If any area appears abnormal, a small tissue sample can be taken and sent to the lab for further study. Both the fecal occult blood test (every year) and sigmoidoscopy (every 5 years).
• Double contrast barium enema every 5 years. This is a series of x-rays of the colon and rectum. It does not allow removal of any abnormal tissue for testing.

To keep yourself as healthy as possible and decrease your risk of cancer:

Eat a well-balanced diet and keep your weight in check. Exercise regularly. Don't smoke. Limit your alcohol intake. Discuss your risk factors with your health care provider, and have regular preventive testing as recommended for you.

To learn more about care management, go to www.Aurora.org/CM. To learn more about what we're doing about colorectal cancer, go to www.Aurora.org/Colon.

That's a wrap on this edition of Your Health. I'm Neal Linkon, and we'd really like to hear from you on how we can help you better navigate the world of health. Drop us a line at internet@aurora.org, and thanks for listening.