Ulcerative Colitis

* Obesity and inactivity: Being overweight, especially around the waist, and a sedentary lifestyle.

* Smoking: Smokers are 30 to 40 percent more likely than nonsmokers to die from colorectal cancer.

Screening for polyps and cancer before they can cause symptoms is by far the best way to prevent or treat colorectal cancer.

Everyone age 50 and older should be screened, or younger if you have high risk for the disease.

Talk to your doctor about which test is right for you.

The recommended screening options include: * Stool screening: Known as fecal occult blood tests, these are simple home screening tests that check for hidden blood in your stool.

Inexpensive ($10 to $30) and much improved, they should be taken annually.

Another successful home testing kit is the new fecal immunochemical test.

Ask your doctor about these different options.

* Double-contrast barium enema: This procedure involves several X- rays of the entire colon and rectum but first requires a rather unpleasant enema with barium solution and air, which is pumped into the rectum.

This is solely a diagnostic procedure, done without sedation and costs $200 to $400.

* Sigmoidoscopy: A flexible tube with a light and camera on the end is inserted into the rectum and lower third of the colon.

If identified, polyps can be removed at the same time and biopsied.

This procedure is usually done without se...

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