Health experts say one of the scariest things to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic is the number of people who stopped getting the recommended health screenings and checkups. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and a great time to remind you to see your doctor at least once a year to get those important checkups and screenings.
Colorectal cancer almost always starts as a non-cancerous polyp. It is one of the cancers that can be prevented. Doctors can remove polyps before they ever turn into cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, 9 out of 10 times early treatment saves lives and the five-year survival rate for colon cancer if caught early is 90%. When diagnosed in stage IV that number drops to 14%.
Colon cancer doesn’t just affect men. Everyone should start getting screened for colon cancer at age 45. If you have a family history or are at higher-risk, you may need to start getting screened earlier.
There are different types of tests to check for colon cancer. Talk to your doctor to find out which test is right for you and how often you should get screened.
