Don’t wait, schedule a colonoscopy today

The National Cancer Institute estimates that 153,020 people in the United States received a diagnosis of colon or rectal cancer in 2023. Approximately 52,550 died of it.

With March being Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we’d like to take this opportunity to urge you not to put off scheduling a colonoscopy screening because many cases of cancer of the colon or rectum are preventable.

Screening by colonoscopy can prevent this cancer because precancerous polyps found during the procedure can be removed at the same time. Furthermore, colonoscopy can also detect the cancer at early stages, when treatment is more likely to be successful.

According to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance, 1 in 23 men and 1 in 25 women will be diagnosed with colorectal (colon or rectal) cancer in their lifetime. This disease affects men and women of all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people 50 years or older.

Incidence in those younger than 50, or young-onset colorectal cancer, is on the rise. Among those under age 55, the incidence rate is increasing by 1.5% every year. According to the latest data, colorectal cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among men under age 50.

This form of cancer first develops with few, if any symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:

• A change in bowel habits, such as diarrhea, constipation, or narrowing of the stool that lasts for more than a few days;

• A feeling that you need to have a bowel movement that’s not relieved by having one;

• Rectal bleeding with bright red blood;

• Blood in the stool, which might make the stool look dark brown or black;

• Cramping or abdominal (belly) pain;

• Weakness and fatigue;

• Unintended weight loss The American Cancer Society recommends that people at average risk of colorectal cancer start regular screening at age 45. This can be done either with a sensitive test that looks for signs of cancer in a person’s stool (a stool-based test) or with an exam that looks at the colon and rectum (a visual exam).

Some people with a family history will be able to follow the recommendations for average-risk adults, but others might need to get a colonoscopy (and not any other type of test) more often, and possibly starting before age 45.

People who are in good health and with a life expectancy of more than 10 years should continue regular colorectal cancer screening through the age of 75. For people ages 76 through 85, the decision to be screened should be based on a person’s preferences, life expectancy, overall health, and prior screening history. People over 85 should no longer get colorectal cancer screening.

You can find more information about screening and prevention, at www.cancer.org. Don’t put it off, head to your doctor now for a screening, it may just save your life.