March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the second most deadly cancer for both men and women. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most of these deaths could be prevented if everyone over the age of 50 got screened for colorectal cancer. The best way to prevent colorectal cancer is to get screened. There are often no signs or symptoms of colorectal cancer. If left undiagnosed or undetected, colorectal cancer can spread throughout the body.
The Department of Health and Human Services states that colorectal cancer screening tests can detect cancer early, when treatment is very successful.
People over age 50 are at highest risk for colorectal cancer. Other risk factors include smoking, having a family history of colorectal cancer, and being African American. African Americans are more likely to die from colorectal cancer than any other group in the nation. Everyone can take these healthy steps to help prevent colorectal cancer:
- Get screened
- Quit smoking and stay away from secondhand smoke
- Get active and eat healthy
For more information contact your physician or preventcancer.org.
Resource: Prevent Colon Cancer Foundation
Click here to download a Colorectal Cancer Fact Sheet from the Prevent Cancer Foundation
