March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, a time to encourage loved ones to get screened for colorectal cancer. The American Cancer Society recommends everyone 45 and older to get screened. Screening tests can detect changes before cancer develops, or can catch cancer early, when it may be easier to treat.
Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in the United States with over 152,000 expected diagnoses and more than 53,000 deaths this year. Locally, more than 3,200 Arizonans will receive a colorectal cancer diagnosis in 2024 and 1,200 will die from the disease.
Colorectal cancer is highly treatable if found in its early stages, and half of all colon cancer deaths in the United States could be prevented if everyone followed recommended screening guidelines:
- For people at average risk for colorectal cancer, the ACS recommends starting 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). Talk to your health care provider about which tests might be good options for you, and to your insurance provider about your coverage. No matter which test you choose, the most important thing is to get screened.
- If you’re in good health, you should continue regular screening through age 75.
- For people ages 76 through 85, talk with your health care provider about whether continuing to get screened is right for you. When you are making your decision, consider your own preferences, overall health, and past screening history.
If you choose to be screened with a test other than colonoscopy, any abnormal test result needs to be followed up with a colonoscopy.
Talk to someone you love about cancer screening today. Every tomorrow should have people you love in it. To get the conversation started, just say: “I love you, get screened.” Visit cancer.org/getscreened to learn more.
