Fellow actor James Van Der Beek was the picture of fitness in his various TV and movie roles.

Their fans were stunned when both died in their 40s from colon cancer.

Those deaths brought renewed attention to the potentially deadly disease that seems to be striking more and more younger people.

Health care professionals at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center are working to educate the public about colon cancer, its signs and symptoms, and the types of testing that is done to detect it.

-Messenger photo by Bill Shea
People who correctly answered questions related to colon cancer Tuesday at UnityPoint Health — Trinity Regional Medical Center were awarded one of these rolls of toilet paper.

On Tuesday, a Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month event was held in the hospital. It is a regular observance that is not in response to the deaths of any celebrities.

At a table set up in a front corridor of the hospital, people could test their knowledge of the disease by spinning a gameshow style wheel and answering trivia questions. The prize for winners: a roll of toilet paper sealed with a sticker reminding people to schedule their colon cancer screening.

There are several factors that can lead to colon cancer, according to Jess Bailey, a nurse practitioner in gastroenterology, which is care of the digestive system. She said those factors include genetics, sedentary lifestyle, a poor diet and age.

The current medical guidelines call for people to have their first colon cancer screening at age 45.

That screening is usually performed via colonoscopy, a procedure that Bailey described as “very low risk, very high yield.”

She said it is the only test that can not only screen for a cancer, but prevent it at the same time. That’s possible, she said, because any pre-cancerous polyps that are found can be removed during the procedure.

Preparation for a colonoscopy, which requires a thorough cleaning of the bowels, makes some people squeamish. Bailey said it is actually no worse than having to spend an extended time in the bathroom due to stomach virus, which is something most people have experienced.

“If you made it through that, you can get through the prep,” she said.

Bailey said there are other tests, such as Cologard, that detect cancer, but do not prevent it the way a colonoscopy can.

Symptoms of colon cancer

• Changes in bowel habits

• Blood in stool

• Narrow stool

• Weight loss

• Abdominal pain

Ways to prevent colon cancer

• Eat a high fiber diet, avoiding junk food and processed food

• Exercise regularly

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Get colon cancer screenings