Mar 24 2009
Colorectal Cancer Awareness
I know this is a somewhat sensitive subject to deal with, but it is so important to those of us over 50 years of age that it merits multiple mentions.
The month of March happens to be Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and before the month is gone I want to pitch the importance of screenings.
Each year, in the United States, 150,000 persons are diagnosed with colon cancer, and 90 PERCENT of these new cases are in persons age 50 and older!
Colorectal cancer is one of the most deadly cancers, killing 50,000 people each year in the United States alone.
The tragedy of this is that MANY of these deaths could have been prevented by screenings to detect precancerous polyps and early cancers that would have been treatable. 
What puts you at risk of colon cancer?
1. Being over age 50.
2. Family history of colon cancer and colon polyps.
3. Your personal history of ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s desease, breast cancer, ovarian cancer.
4. Lifestyle choices that include smoking, alcoholism, a diet heavy in red meats and light on fiber and vegetables.
MOST colon cancers begin as polyps. Early detection and removal of polyps during a colonoscopy means the polyps can never develop into cancer.
There are several different screening methods for discerning early signs of colon cancer, including stool occult blood tests, flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, barium enema and CT colonography. Discuss these with your doctor.
For more information, check out these links: 
Cancer.org
Prevent Cancer.org
Medicare.gov
Cancer.gov
Fight Colorectal Cancer.org
