LOS ANGELES – Colon cancer is a leading cause of cancer death among Filipino men and women. According to the National Cancer Institute, colon cancer is the second most common cancer among Filipino women and the third for Filipino men.

Colon cancer, also referred to as colorectal cancer, begins as small, abnormal growths in the colon or rectum, regions of the large intestines. At this stage, the growths, also called polyps, are not cancerous. With routine screening tests, the precancerous polyps can be detected and removed. Left undectected, however, the polyps can become cancerous and are much more difficult to cure.

Filipino men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced stage colorectal cancer than other Asians and non-Hispanic whites, according to a report published in February in the the journal Cancer. Other studies have shown that Filipino men and women have poor survival rates for colon and rectal cancers compared to other ethnic groups in the United States, which may be due to lack of awareness and late detection of the disease.

Discomfort about talking about the colon may hinder many from seeking the screening and care they need for the early detection of colon cancer. “Most people are shy about private parts and may even find it awkward to talk about symptoms,” says John Hoh, M.D., medical director of Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc., a nonprofit community health center in Los Feliz.

Routine screening can be an effective means of preventing colon cancer. Annual testing is recommended beginning at 50 years of age. A simple self-test, known as the fecal occult blood test (FOBT), is recommended every year. The FOBT can be performed in the privacy of one’s home. Sigmoidoscopy, another screening procedure involving a scope which examines the inside of the colon and rectum, is recommended every five years.

“If you see blood, mucus or a very narrow diameter of stools, then please check with your doctor. If you pass a bowel movement and still feel like there is stool there, you may need to have a sigmoidoscopy to check for rectal cancer. Please do not be shy about asking questions about these matters,” says Dr. Hoh.

Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people ages 65 years old and older and people with disabilities, provides coverage for colon cancer screenings.

Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. provides primary health care services for all ages, including routine check-ups, colorectal screenings and free Medicare enrollment assistance. For more information about colon cancer or Medicare, call (323) 644-3880 ext. 273 with the Asians for Colon Cancer Education (ACE) Project funded by the Aetna Foundation.