National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
By Irene Gonzalez, LSW
The month of March is recognized as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates the lifetime risk of developing Colorectal Cancer is about 1 in 23 (4.3%) for men and 1 in 25 (4.0%) for women and is one of the top 5 cancers in the US. The Centers for Disease Control Screen for Life Campaign dedicates its efforts to informing the public about the importance of starting regular colorectal cancer screenings at age 45, for those at average risk.
The American Cancer Society estimates the number of colorectal cancer cases in the United States to be 106,180 for new cases of colon cancer and 44,850 new cases of rectal cancer in 2022. Factors including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, co-morbidities and access to care can greatly influence quality of health and mortality rates.
Screening can help identify colorectal cancer early, when treatment can still be very effective. Screening can also prevent pre-cancerous polyps or abnormal growths, so they can be removed before they turn into cancer. Often, polyps and cancer do not show symptoms, which is why the importance of screenings are crucial for early detection.
To learn more about Colorectal Cancer screening and prevention, talk to your doctor today. Please also see the additional links below:
