This March, Be Aware That Colorectal Cancer is Preventable and Treatable

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the time of year when you'll see reminders about colon health and the importance of getting screened for this type of cancer.

Colorectal cancer is common with more than 150,000 new cases found each year. It's the second leading cause of cancer deaths overall, and new data reveals that colon cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men and women under 50 years of age.

Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer screening because physicians can not only identify cancer in its early stages, they can find and remove precancerous polyps, essentially preventing cancer from developing.

Recommended age to begin colon screenings has changed from 50 to 45, meaning that more people are now eligible for this important screening.

"We're hoping that every single adult in our region - age 45 and older - will take advantage of this opportunity to save themselves the pain, trouble and expense of cancer, and perhaps even save their lives," said Christopher Hurley, MD, Avera gastroenterologist. Avera has over 30 locations that schedule colonoscopies across its geographical footprint.

Colorectal cancer is very treatable when discovered in its earliest stages. "It's even preventable when physicians have the opportunity to find and remove precancerous polyps before they develop into cancer," Hurley said.

Thanks to increasing numbers of people being screened, along with better treatment options, the rate of deaths in older adults is decreasing annually. However, the same decline in death rates from colon cancer in people under 50 has not been realized, emphasizing the importance of starting screening promptly at age 45, and even at an earlier age in some patients with family history of colon cancer or certain genetic syndromes.

For those dreading the exam and the prep, it's important to remember that preventing colon cancer can save you from cancer treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.

Home tests are another option to discuss with your primary care provider. While colonoscopy is considered the gold standard, an at-home screening is better than no screening at all.

A positive result on a home test would require further testing of a colonoscopy to see if it's a false positive or if there is a cancerous growth or precancerous polyp that's causing the positive result.

Whatever your age, if you experience possible signs of colorectal cancer, it's important to see your provider. Symptoms include:

• Bowel habit changes like diarrhea, constipation or narrowing of stool that continues for days
• Bloating or a feeling like you need a bowel movement that isn't relieved by going to the bathroom
• Pain, tenderness or cramping in the lower abdomen
• Rectal bleeding, blood in the stool or dark stools
• Unintended weight loss and fatigue

Learn more at Avera.org/Colon