SCREENING SAVES LIVES
Colorectal cancer
is the second leading cancer killer in the United States.
The risk increases with age. Colorectal cancer occurs
most often in people aged 50 years or older.
Regular screening for colorectal cancer is recommended for all adults
aged 50 to 75.
This disease is highly
preventable, through screening. Screening tests can find precancerous polyps so they can be removed before they turn into
cancer. Screening also finds colorectal cancer early, when treatment works best.
Colorectal polyps and early stage
cancers don’t always cause symptoms, especially at first. That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer
is so important.
You may be at increased risk for colorectal cancer if:
– you or a close relative have
had colorectal polyps or colorectal cancer;
– you have inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn’s disease, or ulcerative
colitis; or
– you have a genetic syndrome, such as familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), or hereditary non-polyposis
colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome).
– you have been diagnosed with HPV-
Human Papilloma Virus (a cause of abnormal pap smears, genital warts and genital and anal cancer.)
If any of these things is true for you, speak with your doctor about when to start
screening and how often you should be tested.