Life Is An Adventure. Take Charge of Your Health - Colon Cancer Screening

Here are the facts. Colon cancer kills more people each year than every other type of cancer except lung cancer. Cancer is the number one cause of death each year for people between the ages of 45 and 65. Colon cancer is more common than most people realize. One in 24 Americans will get colon cancer in their lifetime, and 1 in 260 Americans will get it before they turn 50 years old. Colon cancer is predicted to be the top cancer killer for people under 50 by the year 2030. And it is also expected to increase by 90% in people under the age of 35 by 2030.

The good news - colon cancer is preventable1 You can prevent colon cancer by finding and removing precancerous polyps before they become cancer. Take charge of your health by screening for colon cancer early to prevent cancer from keeping you from doing the things you love to do.

Regular screening, starting at age 45, is the key to preventing colorectal cancer and finding it early. It is recommended that adults age 45 to 75 be screened for colorectal cancer. However, people under age 45 should discuss screening with their medical provider if they have cancer symptoms or family history. And if you see blood in your stool, call your doctor - no matter your age. For adults ages 76 through 85, the decision to be screened should be discussed with your medical provider. Colorectal cancer screening is not recommended over the age of 85.

Several different options are available for colon cancer screening. You should discuss your options with your medical provider, based on your personal risk factors. Colonoscopy is considered the gold standard. This is a simple and safe procedure in which your doctor uses a long tube with a light and camera to detect polyps, which are small growths that can occur inside the colon. These small polyps can eventually turn into colon cancer. By the age of 45, about one-third of people already have a polyp in their gut. If found during colonoscopy, the polyps can be removed and colon cancer is then prevented. Colonoscopy is recommended every 5-10 years, depending on whether or not polyps are found.

There are also other noninvasive (meaning nothing is inserted into your body) or at-home tests that look for signs of cancer and polyps. While not as accurate as the colonoscopy, these are also great screening tools to detect anything abnormal. Popular options include the Cologuard test, which is a stool DNA test. It is done in the privacy of your home and then mailed into a lab for testing. Another common test is the FIT test, which is also done at-home. You can learn more about all of your test options from your medical provider, or by visiting the Colorectal Cancer Alliance at www.ccalliance.org.

If you are age 45 or older and have not recently been screened, or younger than 45 with possible symptoms, call your healthcare provider today to learn your options and get set-up for a screening test.

For everyone else, you can still help stop colon cancer by starting the conversation! Ask your family members 45 or older if they have gotten screened yet. If not, try to get them to do it for your sake. Even a little nudge can help. For fun resources to share, check out www.leadfrombehind.org.

Life Is An Adventure. Take Charge of Your Health.

Jackson County: Healthy People, Strong Community.