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In This Issue:
Colorectal cancer, the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, is one of the most preventable forms of cancer. However, only 34 percent of people over the age of 50 have undergone screening.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month—an opportunity to be screened for colon cancer and learn more about the disease. While the exact cause is not known, most colon cancers are believed to develop from polyps in the colon that can be present for years prior to their evolution into cancer. With proper screening, polyps can be identified and removed, preventing them from turning into colorectal can cer. Colonoscopy is the most important tool in screening.
It is advised that men and women have screenings at:
Ages 18 – 34: Usually not required unless an individual has a family history of the disease
Ages 35 – 49: Review annually risks and needs with your health care provider
Ages 50 and above: Develop a screening schedule with your physician based on your individual risk factors for colorectal cancer
Urge your family, friends and co-workers to schedule a screening, talk with their primary care physicians or call 1-800-BWH-9999. For more information, visit www.brighamandwomens.org/gastroenterology/colonoscopy.asp