You’ve probably heard of breast cancer and lung cancer, but what about colon cancer? It might sound like something embarrassing that you wouldn’t talk about outside of a doctor’s office, but colon cancer is actually the second leading cancer killer. This means that children with loved ones coping with the disease are less likely to get the support they need. If someone in your family has colon cancer, what can you do to cope? And if you’re the friend of someone dealing with the disease in their family, how can you be there for them?

Sometimes it’s hard to relate to others dealing with life and death issues. If one of your loved ones has colon cancer, or if the disease has struck someone in your best friend’s family, you already know how difficult it is to cope. The biggest problem in your life before might have been getting a better grade on the next math test, or competing for a spot on the basketball team. Suddenly, someone you know is battling for their life. Everything else seems so trivial.

Although it may seem like an uncomfortable thing to hear or talk about, colon cancer is an important issue these days. Katie Couric (co-anchor of NBC’s Today show) lost her husband to colon cancer in 1998. Since then, she has worked to raise awareness of how to prevent and treat colon cancer. After having the disease, Sharon Osbourne (host of her own show on Superstation WGN) started the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Fund to help others. When President George W. Bush had a colonoscopy (go to “DEFINED” to learn about this procedure) he encouraged others to schedule an exam with their doctors to prevent colon cancer. Because colon cancer is so much easier to prevent than other cancers, it has been getting more attention lately.

Colon cancer is very rare in people under 30 years of age. Most people diagnosed with the disease are in their 50’s or 60’s. So although you may not need to worry about this disease as much now, it’s always smart to make healthy decisions now when you’re young. Medical studies are usually inconclusive on what really contributes to developing colon cancer, but there are some general things you can do to cut your risk. Some doctors claim that a low-fat, low-meat, and high-fiber diet (basically eating a lot of fruits and veggies and avoiding fatty foods and meats) will protect you from colon cancer later. Staying fit and active, as well as avoiding smoking and alcohol are also important. But the best thing you can do to prevent colon cancer when you get older, is probably to see a doctor for regular check-ups. Your doctor will advise you on what you should do as you get towards your 50’s (it may be hard to believe, but trust us, time flies!) Who knows, by the time you’re 50 maybe we’ll be able to cure cancer. Until that time comes, educate yourself about this particular cancer, and remember, help is available!