When celebrities like Chadwick Boseman and Kristie Alley pass away seemingly out of nowhere, it is shocking. Oh, they had cancer? What kind? Colon? Rectal??
Getting enough daily fiber is crucial in maintaining healthy bowels. Focusing on adding natural foods that are high in fiber to your diet is an easy way to make sure you are getting enough. High fiber foods include: Fruits and vegetables like apples, bananas, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and spinach and legumes (beans, lentils and chickpeas), as well as nuts and seeds.
It feels very taboo to be discussing someone else’s colon, or one’s own. However, according to the American Cancer Society, colon and rectal cancer (colorectal for short) is the second most common cancer death in the United States, following lung cancer. With an estimated 53,000 deaths from colorectal cancer alone last year, it is so important that the stigma is broken and we talk about it. We spoke to OU Health physician Dr. Kristina Booth, one of 405 Magazine’s Top Docs for 2025, on everything you should know about colon health.
“The difficult thing about detecting colon cancer early is the symptoms are very nonspecific,” Booth said. “Most people will have no symptoms until late in the disease process. Symptoms that might be signs of colon cancer are abdominal pain, blood in bowel movements and progressive constipation.” She noted other ailments that may present with similar symptoms are fissures, hemorrhoids or general constipation.
The American Cancer Society recommends screening for colorectal cancer beginning at age 45 no matter your race, ethnicity or gender. There are now at-home stool DNA screening kits, such as Cologuard, available for those at average risk. The benefit of stool DNA screening kits is that they require no preparation and allow you to provide a sample in the privacy of your own home. Plus, these tests are usually paid for by insurance. “Stool DNA tests can help detect the possibility of polyps and cancers at a good rate, but it cannot make a definitive diagnosis. A positive stool DNA test has to be followed up by a colonoscopy,” Booth said. “There are many people who are not good candidates for a stool DNA test, such as patients that have ever had polyps or cancers, strong family history of colon cancer or inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s disease.” Also, Cologuard is indicated to be routinely done every three years, whereas a traditional colonoscopy would be performed every 10 years in most people.
Booth emphasized that regardless of whether or not you have a positive stool DNA test or colonoscopy, “anyone experiencing consistent blood in their stools for more than a week should make an appointment with their doctor.”
Like all cancers, risk factors for colorectal cancer include smoking, not getting regular exercise, having a poor diet and obesity. Dr. Booth also said that “adequate fiber intake is a very important part of maintaining colon health” — see the sidebar for more detail.
According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, survival rates vary by race and ethnicity, with African Americans having the highest mortality and incident rates in the United States.
“Treatment options are complex and depend on many factors” Booth explained. “Surgery to remove part of the colon is often needed and can often be done laparoscopically or robotically. Sometimes chemotherapy and/or radiation is involved in the treatment of colon and rectal cancers.” When the cancer is localized to the bowel and can be removed surgically, there is a 91% change of at least a five-year survival rate. This is why being proactive with routine screening is so essential for early detection.
