March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.
Colorectal cancer is a disease where the cells, in the colon or rectum, grow out of control. This disease is also referred to as colon cancer.
The colon is the large intestine or large bowel. The rectum is the passageway that connects the colon to the anus.
Abnormal growths called polyps, can form in the colon or rectum. Polypus can turn into cancer overtime. Screening tests can detect polypus before turning cancerous. If detected, they can be removed.
Treatment for colorectal cancer is most effective when caught at an early stage, making regular screenings extremely important.
According to The American Cancer Society adults without a family history should begin colorectal cancer screenings at 45 years old. Adults with a family history should begin screenings at 40 years old or 10 years before the age of the youngest case in the immediate family.
This March the Colorectal Cancer alliance is celebrating, National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, by shining a light on the hurdles many people face when accessing life-saving resources to prevent, detect, and treat colorectal cancer. Everyone deserves access to high quality medical care. Please visit ccalliance.org for colorectal cancer information about screenings, care resources, patient treatment options, and symptoms.
References
1. “March Is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month.” Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month | Colorectal Cancer Alliance, Colorectal Cancer Alliance 2022 501(c)(3), https://www.ccalliance.org/about/awareness-month.
2. “What Is Colorectal Cancer?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 17 Feb. 2022, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/what-is-colorectal-cancer.htm.
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